To return—Ethel read her letter and went to the writing-desk to reply to it. "Who is it from?" asked Mrs. Chichester.
"Mr. Brent," replied Ethel, indifferently.
"Brent?" cried Alaric. "What on earth does he write to YOU for?"
"He wants me to do something for him," and she tore the letter up into the smallest pieces and placed them in a receptacle on the desk.
"Do something?" questioned Alaric.
"Yes. Nothing very much. I'll answer it here," and she proceeded quite imperturbably to write an answer.
Mrs. Chichester had seen that Peg had commenced to study—which meant—with Peg—roaming through her books until she found something that interested her. Then she would read it over and over again until she thought she knew it.
"Come, Alaric," and Mrs. Chichester left the room after admonishing Peg that an hour would be sufficient to sit up. Alaric watched his mother go out of the room and then he slouched over to Peg and grinned chaffingly down at her.
"ORIGINAL-SIN, eh? That's a good 'un."
Peg looked up at him and a dangerous gleam came into her eyes. Alaric was not going to mock at her and get away unscathed. All unconscious of his danger, Alaric went on: