He read his favourite evening paper with less than his
usual interest, for every now and then the episode in his office would
occur to him. Finally he said sharply:
'Edith!'
'Yes, father,' answered his daughter.
'You remember a person named Wentworth, whom you had here the evening
William went away?'
'Yes, father.'
'Very well. Never invite him to this house again.'
'What has he been doing?' asked the young woman in rather a tremulous
voice.
'I desire you also never to ask anyone connected with him--that man
Kenyon, for instance,' continued her father, ignoring her question.
'I thought,' she answered, 'that Mr. Kenyon was not in this country at
present.'
'He is not, but he will be back again, I suppose. At any rate, I wish to
have nothing more to do with those people. You understand that?'
'Yes, father.'
Mr. Longworth went on with his reading. Edith saw her father was greatly
disturbed, and eagerly desired to know the reason, but knew enough of
human nature to understand that in a short time he would relieve her
anxiety. He again appeared to be trying to fix his attention on the
paper. At length he threw it down, and turned towards her.
'That man, Wentworth,' he said bitterly, 'behaved to-day in a most
unjustifiable manner to me in my own office. It seems that William and he
and Kenyon embarked in some mine project. I knew nothing of their doings,
and was not even consulted with regard to them. Now it appears William
has gone to America and done something Wentworth considers wrong.
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