‘Is this true?’ said Isabel, looking from one to the other, as if she had been frightened in vain.

‘Quite true, Isabel,’ said Walter.  ’Never mind Fitzjocelyn’s long face; I wouldn’t go if I were you!  Don’t spoil the holidays.’

‘I must go, Walter dear,’ said Isabel, ’but I do not think Lord Fitzjocelyn would play with my fears.  Either he is very ill, or something else is wrong.’

‘You have guessed it, Isabel,’ said Louis.  ’This illness is partly the effect of distress of mind.’

‘That horrid meeting of trustees!’ cried Isabel.  ’I am sure they have been impertinent.’

’They objected to some of his doings; he answered by threatening to resign, and I am sorry to say that the opposition set prevailed to have his resignation accepted.’

‘A very good thing too,’ cried Sir Walter.  ’I always thought that school a shabby concern.  To be under a lot of butchers and bakers, and nothing but cads among the boys!  He ought to be heartily glad to be rid of the crew.’

Isabel’s indignation was checked by a sort of melancholy amusement at her brother’s view, but Louis doubted whether she realized the weight of her own words as she answered—­’Unfortunately, Walter, it is nearly all we have to live upon.’

‘So much the better,’ continued Walter.  ’I’ll tell you—­you shall all go to Thornton Conway, and I’ll come and spend my holidays there, instead of kicking my heels at these stupid places.  I shan’t mind your babies a bit, and Frost may call himself my tutor if he likes.  I don’t care if you take me away from Eton.’

‘A kind scheme, Walter,’ said Isabel, ’but wanting in two important points, mamma’s consent and James’s.’

‘Oh, I’ll take care of mamma!’

‘I’m afraid I can’t promise the same as to James.’

’Ah!  I see.  Delaford was quite right when he said Mr. Frost was a gentleman who never knew what was for his own advantage.’

As they arrived at the house, Isabel desired to know how soon she must be ready, and went upstairs.  Walter detained his cousin—­’I say, Fitzjocelyn, have they really got nothing to live on?’

‘No more than will keep them from absolute want.’

‘I shall take them home,’ said Walter, with much satisfaction.  ’I shall write to tell James that there is nothing else to be done.  I cannot do without Isabel, and I’ll make my mother consent.’

Fitzjocelyn was glad to be freed from the boy on any terms, and to see him go off to write his letter.

Walter was at least sincere and warm-hearted in his selfishness, and so more agreeable than his mother, whom Louis found much distressed, under the secret conviction that something might be expected of her.  ’Poor Isabel!  I wish she could come to me; but so many of them—­and we without a settled home.  If there were no children—­but London houses are so small; and, indeed, it would be no true kindness to let them live in our style for a little while.  They must run to expenses in dress; it would be much more economical at home, and I could send Walter to them if he is very troublesome.’