The next day Louise carried out her resolve to write for information regarding the progress of things at Coburg Lodge.  She had not long to wait for a reply, and it was of so startling a nature that she ran at once to Mrs. Mumford, whom she found in the nursery.

’Do please come down.  Here’s something I must tell you about.  What do you think mother says?  I’ve to go back home again at once.’

‘What’s the reason?’ Emmeline inquired, knowing not whether to be glad or sorry.

’I’ll read it to you:—­“Dear Lou,” she says, “you’ve made a great deal of trouble, and I hope you’re satisfied.  Things are all upside down, and I’ve never seen dada”—­that’s Mr. Higgins, of course—­ “I’ve never seen dada in such a bad temper, not since first I knew him.  Mr. B.”—­that’s Mr. Bowling, you know—­“has told him plain that he doesn’t think any more of Cissy, and that nothing mustn’t be expected of him.”—­Oh what sweet letters mother does write!—­“That was when dada went and asked him about his intentions, as he couldn’t help doing, because Cissy is fretting so.  It’s all over, and of course you’re the cause of it; and, though I can’t blame you as much as the others do, I think you are to blame.  And Cissy said she must go to the seaside to get over it, and she went off yesterday to Margate to your Aunt Annie’s boarding-house, and there she says she shall stay as long as she doesn’t feel quite well, and dada has to pay two guineas a week for her.  So he says at once, ’Now Loo ’ll have to come back.  I’m not going to pay for the both of them boarding out,’ he says.  And he means it.  He has told me to write to you at once, and you’re to come as soon as you can, and he won’t be responsible to Mrs. Mumford for more than another week’s payment.”—­There!  But I shan’t go, for all that.  The idea!  I left home just to please them, and now I’m to go back just when it suits their convenience.  Certainly not.’

‘But what will you do, Louise,’ asked Mrs. Mumford, ’if Mr. Higgins is quite determined?’

’Do?  Oh!  I shall settle it easy enough.  I shall write at once to the old man and tell him I’m getting on so nicely in every way that I couldn’t dream of leaving you.  It’s all nonsense, you’ll see.’

Emmeline and her husband held a council that night, and resolved that, whatever the issue of Louise’s appeal to her stepfather, this was a very good opportunity for getting rid of their guest.  They would wait till Louise made known the upshot of her negotiations.  It seemed probable that Mr. Higgins would spare them the unpleasantness of telling Miss Derrick she must leave.  If not, that disagreeable necessity must be faced.

‘I had rather cut down expenses all round,’ said Emmeline, ’than have our home upset in this way.  It isn’t like home at all.  Louise is a whirlwind, and the longer she stays, the worse it’ll be.’

‘Yes, it won’t do at all,’ Mumford assented.  ’By the bye, I met Bilton to-day, and he asked after Miss Derrick.  I didn’t like his look or his tone at all.  I feel quite sure there’s a joke going round at our expense.  Confound it!’