he came and leaned over the
chair in which David was sitting, and asked:

"David, when did Philip Oswald go away?"

David turned round and looked at her uneasily.

"A good while ago. Soon after you all went away to Gourlay. No,
Violet--don't say it," said he, eagerly, as he met her look. "He could
not do it. Why should he? He has all the money he wants. And,
besides, he _could_ not do such a thing."

"David," said Violet, gravely, "was it Philip that you were thinking
about?"

"Don't, Violet! It came into my mind--I couldn't help that, but it is
wrong to speak of it. It could not have been he."

"I don't know. It does not seem possible. He is foolish and
frivolous--and not to be relied on; but I do not think he would do such
a thing as--take money--unless--"

"Violet! Don't speak of it. A false accusation is a terrible thing."

"I am not accusing him. There does not seem to be a sufficient motive
for such an act. The sum was so small--and then--"

"Dear Violet!" said David, in great distress, "don't speak of it any
more."

"Well, I will not--but Mr Oswald accused you. You are a great deal
better than I am, Davie," said his sister, softly.

David laughed an uncertain laugh.

"That is all you know about it," said he.

When Violet went up next day to speak to Miss Oswald about the little
girls, the first word that Frank said to her was:

"Has Davie told you? Oh! Violet, what will Aunt Mary think of papa?"

But Violet could not trust herself to speak of Davie's trouble to him.
She was too angry with his father; and, besides, she was too startled by
Frank's pale looks to be able to think, for the moment, of any one but
him.

"Are you ill, Frank? Are your eyes worse? What have you been doing to
them?"

For Frank had dropped his head down on his hands again.

"Yes, they are worse. I was out in the rain, and caught cold. I was
not strong enough to go, I suppose. Phil, sent me back with some people
who were coming down. He would have come himself, but, of course, I
couldn't let him."

"You would have done better to come to Gourlay with us," said Violet.

"Yes, even without Jem or Davie. I wish I had gone."

"Come with me to-morrow," said Violet, earnestly. "Mamma will be very
glad to see you."

But Frank shook his head sadly.

"I cannot, Violet. I should be ashamed to look Aunt Mary in the face--
after--"

"You need not, Frank. Mamma will know. And you don't suppose tha