You can hardly understand--" "What about--anything about Jeff ?" interrupted the boy, jumping at the truth.
"It is.

It has been necessary, for everybody's sake, that he should leave here." "What!" thundered Percy, turning pale and clutching the back of his chair; "you've sent Jeff away--kicked him out ?" "Come, Percy, don't be unreasonable.

I--" "When did he go--how long ago ?" exclaimed the boy, half frantic.
"Percy, you really--" "How long ago ?" "It is more than an hour since--" Percy waited to hear no more; he dashed down the stairs and shouted to Walker.
"Did you see Jeffreys go?
Which way did he go ?" "I didn't see--" "Come and help me look for him, he's sure to be about.

Tell Appleby, do you hear?
Raby, I say," he exclaimed, as his cousin appeared in the hall, "Jeff's been kicked out an hour ago! I'm going to find him!" and the poor lad, with a heart almost bursting, flung open the door and rushed out into the street.
Alas! it was a fool's errand, and he knew it.

Still, he could not endure to do nothing.
After two weary hours he gave it up, and returned home dispirited and furious.