"I believe Professor Endicott is in financial difficulties. They say he has lost his money—has quite ruined the family."
"Lorna!"
"Yes. I told father. I wish he were at home now. He is so full of this new business deal that he must have forgotten what I told him I had heard about the Endicotts. I believe that is what is troubling Ralph so much—makes him go mooning about as he does."
"Indeed!" ejaculated Miss Ida. "Are you quite sure that it is not your treatment of the boy that causes his moodiness?"
"Oh, dear, Aunt Ida! Ralph Endicott does not care how I treat him. I wish you could have heard him when we were coming up from Lower Trillion the other day in his Fenique. Called me 'kid'! Girls mean nothing to him. At least, not this girl," and she laughed airily.
"But, Lorna," said her aunt, "can it be possible that this tale you have heard is true—about the loss of Henry's money?"
"Well, Aunt Ida, how did the professor impress you just now?"
"As acting very strangely—even for him. And his peculiar manner did not seem to arise as usual from his habitual absent-mindedness."
"That is what I thought. Of course the poor old fellow always does have a 'lost, strayed, or stolen' way about him——"
"Why, Lorna! Professor Henry Endicott is not old—not at all!" admonished Miss Ida heatedly.