"Forgot where the door was, and went out of office by the window."
"Was it a war?"
"Oh, no," said Dick. "Only Mexico."
The parlour-maid returned with a sealed letter. Until she was gone, Amaryllis eyed the writing on the envelope with reluctant displeasure; then looked at Dick.
"Please do," he said.
When she had glanced at the letter.
"I wish you'd said don't," she complained. "Neither money nor bad news. Foolishness from an unpleasant person—that's all."
On the point of tearing it, she checked herself.
"It's dad's business after all," she murmured, more to herself than Dick; and rising, went upstairs quickly, as about to return.
As she disappeared from the eyes which could not help watching her, Randal came up the narrow corridor from the study. Dick sank back into his chair and looked up at his brother.