"You'd better come with me into the study," said the father. "We needn't disturb your mother and sisters about business." Then the squire led the way out of the room, and Dolly followed, making a woful grimace at his sisters. The three ladies sat over their tea for about half-an-hour, waiting,--not the result of the conference, for with that they did not suppose that they would be made acquainted,--but whatever signs of good or evil might be collected from the manner and appearance of the squire when he should return to them. Dolly they did not expect to see again,--probably for a month. He and the squire never did come together without quarrelling, and careless as was the young man in every other respect, he had hitherto been obdurate as to his own rights in any dealings which he had with his father. At the end of the half hour Mr. Longestaffe returned to the drawing-room, and at once pronounced the doom of the family. "My dear," he said, "we shall not return from Caversham to London this year." He struggled hard to maintain a grand dignified tranquillity as he spoke, but his voice quivered with emotion.
[Illustration: Then the squire led the way out of the room, and Dolly followed.]

"You'd better come with me into the study," said the father. "We needn't disturb your mother and sisters about business."
The squire led the way out of the room, and Dolly followed, making a woeful grimace at his sisters. The three ladies sat over their tea for about half-an-hour, waiting for whatever signs of good or evil might be collected from the squire's manner when he should return to them. Dolly they did not expect to see again - probably for a month. He and the squire never met without quarrelling.
At the end of the half hour Mr. Longestaffe returned to the drawing-room, and at once pronounced the doom of the family.
"My dear," he said, "we shall not come back to London this year." He struggled hard to maintain a grand dignified tranquillity, but his voice quivered with emotion.
