"I suppose I can take out Captain this afternoon? I want to ride over to St. John's."
"Your father—" Mrs. Wilton got no further; and Salome said,—
"Father does not like Captain to be ridden carelessly, Raymond. You had better take old Bess."
"Thank you!" was Raymond's retort; "I did not ask for your opinion, Miss Sal."
Then Raymond left the room, and Reginald, seeing his mother did not wish to be troubled with questions, followed him.
Ada with another kiss, as she leaned over the back of her mother's chair, also went away, and Salome and her mother were left to themselves.
Salome knew something was wrong—very wrong, but her lips refused to form the words she longed to utter. Mrs. Wilton, finding they were alone together, covered her face with her hand, and then in a broken whisper said,—
"Your father is in great trouble, Salome."
"Is he ill?" the girl asked quietly.
"Ill, and most miserable. He thinks he is ruined."