"Father! What terrible thing has happened?"
"A thing so terrible that I desire confirmation of it from Penfield's lips before I shall fully believe it. You will please call him."
She could not disobey that command. She went tremblingly up the stairs and returned in a minute or two to say:
"Pen had not yet gone to bed, father. He will be down as soon as he puts on his coat and shoes."
"Very well."
Colonel Butler seated himself in his accustomed chair and awaited the advent of his grandson.
When Pen entered the library a few minutes later, his Aunt Millicent was still in the room.
"Millicent," said the colonel, "will you be good enough to retire for a time? I wish to speak to Penfield alone."
She rose and started toward the hall, but turned back again.
"Father," she said, "if Pen is to be reprimanded for anything he has done, I wish to know about it."