"Starlight!"
"Suppose I ask Mr. Payne to let me have a mount?"
"Daughter," the father was speaking quite sternly, "you know I told you I never wanted you to ride behind the hounds again."
There was dead silence. Frances got to her feet and went over to the mantelpiece, eyes downcast, red mouth down-curved.
"You might drive out to the meet," began her father.
A flash of her eyes answered him.
"I'll order the trap right now!" she said quickly.
"Now, it's late!" began the professor, not liking to be taken so literally at his word. "I don't think there is any one at the stables."
"Mr. Payne telephoned from there; I told him to wait a moment. I'll try again."
The professor listened anxiously to the whir and then to the monologue in the hall.