"We wanted her for tennis, she is such a good player; but no one could find her." "Not even your brother ?" asks Mrs.Bethune.
"Not even Tom; she disappeared somewhere after breakfast." "Why, so did he!" and Mrs.Bethune lifts her brows in a very amused fashion.
"Oh no, he didn't," says Minnie Hescott, casting a sudden shrewd glance at her.

"He was in the library writing letters till an hour ago.

I know that, because I was with him." "What an excellent sister you are!" says Mrs.Bethune, with a slight laugh.
"Why ?" asks Miss Hescott slowly.

"Because I was with him ?" Her tone is a little dangerous.
"Naturally," says Mrs.Bethune, saving herself promptly.

"To be always with one's brother shows devotion indeed; but you forget your _rle_, don't you?
Where has he been for the past hour?
You haven't told us that! Surely you have not forsaken him now, when it may be the hour of his extremity." Her tone is jesting, but all through it Rylton can read between the lines.
"He is with Colonel Neilson, at the kennels," replies Miss Hescott promptly.
"Ah, I told you you were a good sister," says Mrs.Bethune.
"Because I said Tom was with Colonel Neilson?
Do you think he _isn't_ with him ?" asks Minnie, looking at her fixedly.
"My _dear_ girl! What a _btise!_ No! Because you take such care to know what he is doing.