Next moment the door burst open and Willie, performing much the same ceremony that Frank had done, and in a wonderfully similar way, said he had come home with something strange to tell, though not altogether strange either, as his mother, he said, knew something about it already.
Mrs Willders smiled and glanced at Frank.
“Which is to begin first?” she asked.
“What! do you know about it, too?” cried Willie, turning to his brother.
“Know about what?” said Frank. “You have not told me what it is; how can I answer you?”
“About Mr Auberly,” said Willie.
Frank said that he knew nothing new or peculiar about him, except that he was—no, he wouldn’t say anything bad of him, for he must be a miserable man at that time.
“But out with your news, Willie,” he added, “mine will keep; and as yours is, according to yourself, partly known already to my mother, it’s as well to finish off one subject before we begin to another.”
“Oh, then, you have news, too, have you?” said Willie.
Frank nodded.