"No, I haven't seen him since he made such a mess of it up at our house, putting out the fire," growled the spendthrift.
"It's a wonder you didn't put out the fire yourself," put in Marion sharply. She did not like talk against her brother.
"I—I was sick, sicker than anybody supposed," stammered St. John. "Had I been at all well, things would have gone on very differently, I can assure you."
"Then you haven't seen or heard of Jack," said Mrs. Ruthven. "He has been missing since last night."
"No, I haven't seen him—and I don't want to see him. He insulted me and made trouble between me and my mother."
"On account of the fire?"
"Yes. He thinks he is a regular lord of creation, he does," went on St. John hotly. "He wants dressing down, Aunt Alice."
"I cannot believe Jack has done anything very wrong."
"He is a nobody, and puts on altogether too many airs."
Mrs. Ruthven would not listen to this talk, and changed the subject by asking him what had brought him over from his home.