Sally was silent again for some time. "Poor Patty!" she murmured. "It's hard on her. If she has lost money in that way I must pay her back."
Doctor Beatty made no reply. Sally had not said it to him.
"I believe," she said, turning to him, "that I know how I can find out all about it—from a trustworthy source," she added, smiling gravely, "as Miss Lambkin would put it."
The doctor muttered impatiently under his breath. Letty Lambkin! But he had done his errand, for which service Sally thanked him again.
Doctor Beatty had been gone but a few minutes when Horry Carling came in. He nodded pleasantly to Sally and was taking off his overcoat.
"Horry," said Sally suddenly, "what has Charlie been doing?"
Horry stopped, his coat hanging by the arms and his mouth open, and looked at her. He was very much startled.
"Wh—wh—what?" he asked at last.
"I asked you what Charlie has been doing. What mischief has he been up to? I am pretty sure he has been misbehaving himself since he has been in college. How? Has he been in bad company?"
"W—w—well, y—y—yes," Horry stammered, getting rather red, "I th—th—think h—he h—h—has."