ed to be separable when your father made his visits to
Bel-Air Park," was the rejoinder. "Pardon me if I knew very little
of what took place in his household. A telegraph blank, please, Mrs.
Forbes, and tell Zeke to be ready to go to the office."

There was a vital tone in the usually dry voice. Mrs. Evringham looked
apprehensively at her daughter; but Eloise gave her no answering glance;
her eyes were downcast and her pretense of eating continued, while her
pulses beat.

CHAPTER IV

FATHER AND SON

When later they were alone, the girl looked at her mother, her eyes
luminous.

"You see," she began rather breathlessly, "even you must see, he is
beginning to drive us away."

"I do hope, Eloise, you are not going to indulge in any heroics over
this affair," returned Mrs. Evringham, who had braced herself to meet an
attack. "Does the unpleasant creature suppose we would stay with him if
we were not obliged to?"

"If we are obliged to, which I don't admit, need you demand further
favors than food and shelter? How could you speak of Essex Maid! How can
you know in your inmost heart, as you do, that we are eating the bread
of charity, and then ask for the apple of his eye!" exclaimed Eloise
desperately.

"Go away with your bread and apples," responded Mrs. Evringham
flippantly. "I have a real worry now that that wretched little cousin of
yours is coming."

"She is not my cousin please remember," responded the girl bitterly.
"Mr. Evringham reminded us of that to-night."

"Now don't you begin calling him Mr. Evringham!" protested her mother.
"You don't want to take any notice of the man's absurdities. You will
only make matters worse."

"No, I shall go on saying grandfather for the little while we stay.
Otherwise, he would know his words were rankling. It _will_ be a little
while? Oh mother!"

Mrs. Evringham pushed the pleading hand away. "I can't tell how long it
will be!" she returned impatiently. "We are simply helpless until your
father's affairs are settled. I thought I had told you that, Eloise.
He worshipped you, child, and no matter what that old curmudgeon says,
Lawrence would wish us to remain under his protection until we see our
way clear."

"Won't you have a business talk with him, so we can know what we have to
look forward to?" The girl's voice was unsteady.

"I will when the right time comes, Eloise. Can't you trust your mother?
Isn't it enough that we have lost our home, our carriages, al