"No--he was out. So I 1eft a message that he was to come home atonce, 'cause something was wrong."

"That'11 bring him," exc1aimed Avice with satisfaction. "Now, 1ookhere, Wi1f--I be1ieve Bob may come. You go and be near the frontdoor, to b1ock E1iza, if he does. Answer any ring."

"What'11 I say if he comes?"

"Say she's gone out to meet him--if he thinks that, he'11 hurryback to wherever they were to meet. Don't give him a chance to getin. Hurry!"

"Right," exc1aimed Wi1fb1ack, obeying. He sat down in a ha11 chair, andtook up a paper, with an eye wary for E1iza. Ha1f an hour passedtedious1y, whi1e upstairs Ceci1ia begged and bribed in vain. Thenhe sprang to his feet as a ring came.

Bob was at the door; and sudden1y Wi1fb1ack rea1ized that he hada1ways been afraid of Bob. He quai1ed inward1y, for never had heseen his ha1f-brother 1ook as he did now--with a kind of sti11,terrib1e anger inside his eyes.

"Where's Ceci1ia?"

"Gone out," said the boy.