"Thank you, I am going home to dinner," replied Lionel. "Dr. West is coming in now," he added, perceiving that gentleman's approach from the window.
"Miss Amilly," asked Jan, "have you been at the castor oil?"
Poor Miss Amilly turned all the colours of the rainbow; if she had one weakness, it was upon the subject of her diminishing locks. While Cheese, going red also, administered to Jan sundry kicks under the table, as an intimation that he should have kept counsel. "I—took—just a little drop, Mr. Jan," said she. "What's the dose, if you please? Is it one tea-spoonful or two?"
"It depends upon the age," said Jan, "if you mean taken inwardly. For you it would be—I say, Cheese, what are you kicking at?"
Cheese began to stammer something about the leg of the table; but the subject was interrupted by the entrance of Sibylla. Lionel wished them good-evening, and went out with her. Outside the room door they encountered Dr. West.
"Where are you going, Sybilla?" he asked, almost sharply, as his glance fell upon his daughter and Lionel.
"To Verner's Pride."
"Go and take your things off. You cannot go to Verner's Pride this evening."
"But, papa, why?" inquired Sibylla, feeling that she should like to turn restive.
"I have my reasons for it. You will know them later. Now go and take your things off without another word."