not one of her hearers had the heart to utter a
reproach. Philippa looked appealingly at Steve, as if asking what could
be done next; but for once the set face refused her comfort in her need.
Stephen could be trusted to do what was right, but his search would
lack the inspiration which would come from a thorough understanding of
the boy's character.

"And I'm only a woman; I haven't the knowledge that a man would have,"
sighed poor Phil to herself; then she stretched out her hands and cried
sharply, "I want to see the Hermit. Barney liked him so much! They
used to talk together; he will know best what was in the boy's mind, and
be able to help us."

"I'll bring him up," said Steve, and turned straightway to the door.
He, too, was eager for a man's advice--a calm, masculine judgment--to
temper the discussion with these distracted girls. Relief was apparent
in his manner when he followed the Hermit into the dining-room five
minutes later, and summoned his sisters to meet him.

"Barney has gone!" said Philippa simply as she put her hand into the one
outstretched to meet it. Then as she met the grave tenderness of the
gaze that was turned upon her, for the first time she broke down and
sobbed out a wild appeal: "Oh, find him for me--find him for me! He has
run away, and it is all my fault. I brought him to this terrible city,
and shut him up in an office all day long; and Barney is such a restless
creature; he can't endure confinement. If he got into trouble here,
when we were all near him, what will Income of him now when he is alone?
Oh, find him for me! Bring him back--"

"I will, Miss Philippa, if it is humanly possible," replied the Hermit
gravely. And then Madge's story was retold, and the question raised
again as to how Barney had come into possession of so much money.

"I can account for some of it at least," Mr Neil said. "I saw that the
boy was troubled, and found out that he was in need of money.
Eventually he asked me for the loan of five pounds. I said, `My boy,
you must not begin borrowing at your age. It is a bad habit, and I
won't encourage you in it. But I had made up my mind to give you a
cheque for a Christmas present; and you shall have it in advance, if
that would be a help to you.' He said it would, and I gave him the five
pounds for which he had asked."

"It was not right of you. No! you should not have done it. It was
leading the boy into temptation." Philippa spoke in tones