“Everything, sir! everything!” rejoined the Colonel. “When was my daughter last here?”
“Last week, I think,” replied Philip.
He then caught sight of the hat Phyllis had thrown on a chair and forgotten in her haste to hide herself.
“The little fool!” he said inwardly, as he moved himself so as to hide the chair. “She is here!”
It was this movement of Philip’s which was his undoing.
Colonel Lane’s eyes followed it; and he saw the hat.
“So,” he said with contempt, “you add lying to your other accomplishments! There is her hat! Where have you hidden her?”
Philip was too dumbfounded to answer.
The Colonel strode towards the bedroom door.
Philip intercepted him. He was now sure that silly Phyllis was there, and he feared that her father in his present mood would forget that his daughter was no longer a child and might thrash her.