Ethel's face, however, grew quietly scornful.

She knew what Sylvia's forlorn and helpless look was worth.
"I'm not afraid that anybody will try," George replied.
"Your confidence is admirable." laughed Ethel; "but I mustn't appear too cynical, and I've a favor to ask.

Will you take Edgar out with you ?" George felt a little surprised.

Edgar was her brother, a lad of somewhat erratic habits and ideas, who had been at Oxford when George last heard of him.
"Yes, if he wants to go, and Stephen approves," he said; for Stephen, the lawyer, was an elder brother, and the Wests had lost their parents.
"He will be relieved to get him off his hands for a while; but Edgar will be over to see you during the afternoon.

He's spending a week or two with the Charltons." "I remember that young Charlton and he were close acquaintances." "That was the excuse for the visit; but you had better understand that there was a certain amount of friction when Edgar came home after some trouble with the authorities.