mother,
not daring to come too close while he was right under the paternal eye,
hung over the table in the background, with yearning, tremulous love in
her eyes, and with her lips parted, ready to utter the tender words of a
pleading peacemaker.

But the tone Mr. Wedmore chose to take was that of utter contempt,
complete irresponsibility. When his son had finished speaking he waited
as if to hear whether there was any more to come, and then abruptly
turned his back upon him and began to poke the fire.

"Very well," said he, with an affectation of extreme calmness. "Since
you have made up your mind, the sooner you begin to carry out your plans
the better. I'm very glad to see that you have a mind to make up."

"Thank you, sir," said Max.

And he was turning to leave the room, when his mother sprang forward and
stopped him.

"No, no! Don't go like that! My boy! George! Don't say good-bye yet.
Take a little time. Let him try a little trouble of his own for a
change. He has made up his mind, he says. I'm sure he's old enough.
Leave him alone."

Max put his arm round his mother, gave her a warm kiss, disengaged
himself, and left the room.

The poor woman was almost hysterical.

"He means it, George! He means it this time!" she moaned.

And her husband, though he laughed at her, and though he said to himself
that he did not care, was inclined to agree with her.

Max went straight up to his own room, and began to do his packing with
much outward cheerfulness. Indeed he felt no depression over the dashing
step he was taking, although he felt sore over the parting with home and
his mother and sisters.

He was debating within himself whether he should try to see Carrie
before he went, or whether he should only leave a note to be given to
her after he was gone, when he heard the voice of his sister Doreen
calling him. He threw open the door and shouted back.

She was in the hall.

"Max," cried she, in a hissing whisper, "I want to speak to you. Make
haste!"

He ran downstairs and found her standing with two of the maids, both of
whom looked rather frightened.

"Max," said Doreen, "there's an old woman hanging about the place--" Max
started. He guessed what was coming. "The same old woman that came at
Christmas time. She jumped up in the well-house at Anne, and sent her
into hysterics. And now they've lost sight of her, just as they did last
time, and we want you to help to ferret her out and send her away."