It was the girl's turn to frown now.
"Please don't, papa," said she, in a lower voice. "I know you're going to worry him, and to put your hands behind your back and ask him conundrums, and to make all sorts of mischief, under the impression that you are putting things right. And if you only just wouldn't, everything would soon be as right as possible. While if you persist—"
But Mr. Wedmore interrupted her, not harshly, as he would have done anybody else, but with decision.
"You must trust me to know best, my dear. It is better for you both that we should come to some understanding. Haselden, you'll excuse me for half an hour, won't you? And you, Doreen," and he turned again to his daughter, "stay with the doctor here, and try to talk sense till I come back again."
And Mr. Wedmore went quickly out of the room, without giving the girl a chance of saying anything more.
CHAPTER II.
MAX MAKES A DISCOVERY.
Doreen's bright face lost a little of its color and much of its gayety as her father disappeared. The doctor felt sorry for her.
"Come, come; cheer up, my dear," he said. "If he loves you honestly, and I don't know how he can fail to do so, a few words with your father will put matters all right. There is nothing to look so sad about, I think."