"I don't know, Grace," answered Mr. Ford gently. "But don't worry. We shall find him. How is your mother?"
"Oh, she feels it dreadfully of course. She's been wanting you so much."
"I came as soon as I could. Your Uncle Isaac stopped for me after telephoning the news to you."
"Yes, I allowed that was the best procedure," said Mr. Ford Sr., he being the elder brother of the father of Grace. Uncle Isaac spoke with a slight Southern accent, but not very pronounced, since he had lived most of his life in the North.
"I'll see your mother first, Grace, and then we'll discuss what's best to be done," went on Mr. Ford. "It was rather a shock to me."
"Oh, father! I hope nothing has happened to poor Will!" sighed Grace.
"Well, if there has, he brought it on himself," said Uncle Isaac sharply. "He had a good place with me, and he could have stayed there and learned the business. Instead of that he chose to act like a——"
"Never mind, Isaac," spoke Mr. Ford quickly. "The thing is done, and we'll have to make the best of it. Perhaps I acted a bit hastily in sending him to you."
"It would have done him good if he had stayed with me. But boys are so foolish."
"And I presume you and I were—at Will's age," said the father. "Well, I'll go see your mother, Grace, and then I'll be down again. Is someone here?" and he looked at the rubbers in the hall.