He was playing Mendelssohn's "Consolation." When had one heard Mendelssohn! His terrier sat drooping before the fire waiting for him to come to bed.
Finch whispered: "Shall you tell him?"
"Yes. Wait till he has finished."
They stood motionless together. When the last notes had died, Alayne went to his side. He remained looking at his hands for a little, then slowly raised his eyes to her face.
Startled by her reappearance, he exclaimed: "Alayne, my dear! What is wrong?"
"Don't be alarmed," she said. "It's nothing serious. It's only that Eden has gone away a little sooner than I expected. He left a note at the Hut for me. Finch wouldn't let me stay there alone—so I'm back, you see." Her head drooped; she twisted her fingers together. Her voice was scarcely audible as she added: "He took Minny Ware with him."
Nicholas's large eyes glared up at her. "The deuce he did! The scoundrel! He ought to be flogged. My poor little girl" He heaved himself around on the piano seat and put his arm about her waist. "This is the return he makes you for all your kindness! He's nothing but a young wastrel! Does Renny know of this?"
"I haven't seen Renny." She was filled with shame at the thought of Renny. Now she did not want to see him. She would leave this house and never return to it again.
Augusta was calling from upstairs: "Did I hear Alayne's voice? What is wrong, Nicholas?"
Full of excitement, he limped vigorously to the foot of the stairs.
"Gussie!" He had not given her this diminutive for years. "Come along down, Gussie! Here's a pretty kettle of fish. Young Eden has run off with that hussy Minny!"
He turned to Alayne and Finch, who had followed him into the hall. "Do you know where they've gone?"
Finch was getting excited, too. "To France!" he shouted, as though his uncle were deaf.
Augusta began to descend the stairs, dressed in petti-
