"I'm afraid I shall have to leave you here for an hour or two. I have come to London on business," Mr. Vincent said. "But I must try and show you some sights presently, though I'm not good at that sort of thing. Perhaps we might go to a theatre to-night—"
"Oh! But what would Hannah say?" At a safe distance it was amusing to think of Hannah's wrath.
"I don't know." It amused him, too. "But it shall be something that won't hurt us very much. I believe "King John" is going on still. I will try and get places for it while I am out."
"Couldn't I go with you now—I mean about your business?"
He considered for a moment. It was one of his characteristics that he always thought out his words before answering even trivial questions. "It would be better not. I want to arrange some family matters."
"But I am family," she pleaded.
"That's true." He hesitated again before he went on. "You know that my brother—he is your uncle Cyril, of course—is ill, and I may possibly go out to him?"
"Yes, father, I know."
"I want to find out how ill he is, if it is possible, from the account he gives of himself. A specialist may know."
"You never told me anything about him. Is he older than you?"