"He's very fond of mamma," put in Frances.
"He takes a queer way to show it, it strikes me," remarked her uncle.
"It's—it's all his temper, I'm afraid," Frances allowed reluctantly.
"It is that he's spoilt," said Elsa. "He's perhaps not spoilt in one way, but in another he is. He has never known any hardships or been forced into any self-denial. Great-uncle," she went on earnestly, "if it's true that we have lost or are going to lose nearly all our money, won't it perhaps be a good thing for Geoff?"
"Who says you're going to lose your money?"
"I don't know exactly why I feel sure it's not coming right. I know you said so to mamma—at least you tried to make her happier; but I can't understand it. If that Mr. Norris wrote so strongly, there must be something wrong."
Mr. Byrne moved and looked at her sharply.
"You don't speak that way to your mother, I hope?"
"Of course not," said Elsa; "I'm only too glad for her to feel happier about it. I was only speaking of what I thought myself."
"Well—well—as long as your mother's mind is easier it doesn't matter. I cannot explain things fully to you at present, but you seem to be sensible girls, and girls to be trusted. I may just tell you this much—all this trouble is nothing new; I had seen it coming for years. The only thing I had not anticipated was that those fools of lawyers should have told your mother about the crash when it did come. There was no need for her to know anything about it. I'm her trustee——"