Yes, I allowed that was the best procedure," said Mr. Ford Sr., he
being the elder brother of the father of Grace. Uncle Isaac spoke with a
slight Southern accent, but not very pronounced, since he had lived most
of his life in the North.

"I'll see your mother first, Grace, and then we'll discuss what's best
to be done," went on Mr. Ford. "It was rather a shock to me."

"Oh, father! I hope nothing has happened to poor Will!" sighed Grace.

"Well, if there has, he brought it on himself," said Uncle Isaac
sharply. "He had a good place with me, and he could have stayed there
and learned the business. Instead of that he chose to act like a----"

"Never mind, Isaac," spoke Mr. Ford quickly. "The thing is done, and
we'll have to make the best of it. Perhaps I acted a bit hastily in
sending him to you."

"It would have done him good if he had stayed with me. But boys are so
foolish."

"And I presume you and I were--at Will's age," said the father. "Well,
I'll go see your mother, Grace, and then I'll be down again. Is someone
here?" and he looked at the rubbers in the hall.

"Yes, Betty, Mollie and Amy."

"Oh, that's all right. You can stay with them until I come down. Isaac,
if you are hungry I'll have some lunch sent up."

"Not for me. I never eat between meals," and Uncle Isaac spoke with
firmness.

As Betty looked out of a crack in the library door she made up her mind
that Mr. Ford's brother seldom did anything "between meals." He seemed
to be a man who lived by hard and fast rules, and he had not the most
kindly face and manner in the world. He was quite a contrast to Grace's
father.

"Maybe that's why Will left him," mused Betty. "I'm sure he looks as if
he would be a hard master. Poor Will!"

"I'll just sit in here and look at the paper," went on Uncle Isaac,
starting toward the library.

"The girls--my chums--are in there," said Grace quickly. "Of course, if
you----"

"Excuse me!" interrupted Uncle Isaac. "I'll meet them later, after your
father and I have straightened out this tangle--if it can be done. I'll
sit in the parlor, though I'm not used to it. No use wearing out the
best carpet. Is anyone in the dining room?"

"They are getting ready for dinner," said Grace with a smile, to which
the elderly man did not respond. "I guess you'll have to go to the
parlor, Uncle Isaac. Of course we'll entertain you, but----"

"No, I'd rather look over the paper. Go along, Jim, and comfort Margaret
all you