To this Everett did not reply.
"How is dear Ann?" asked Mrs. Vandecar.
"I left her quite well; but not in the best of spirits. In fact, dear little lady," and he bent over the white hand he held, "I've come to ask a favor of you."
"Is it anything about Ann? I can't have matters disarranged between you two. I've always said you were an ideal couple."
"Thank you," murmured Everett.
Her frank words somewhat shattered his courage; for he knew her to be kind-hearted. He did not expect to have her make any impression upon the Shellington brother and sister; but wished her assistance as far as her husband was concerned.
He kept his gaze so long upon the floor that Mrs. Vandecar spoke: "I'm glad you came to me, Everett."
"Yes, I'm glad, too, and I need your help just now. The fact is, Ann and I have had words over a case I have taken charge of in the office."
"How very strange!" exclaimed the woman, mystified.
"It's no more strange to you than to me," went on Everett, after they were seated. "First, Horace and I quarreled, and then, thinking Ann would uphold me in my work, I went to her; getting about the same reception I had received from him."
"I should never have believed it of either of them," faltered Mrs. Vandecar. "But do tell me about it."
"Horace and Ann, as you know, have a boy and a girl in their charge."
The governor's wife sat up interestedly.
"I have heard of them," said she; "but have never seen them. I asked Ann over the telephone one day this week, if I sent Katherine for the girl, would she allow her to come and spend an afternoon with Mildred. But she said that--"
"Fledra, they call her," interrupted Brimbecomb, with a keen glance at his companion.
"Yes, so I've heard. Ann said that this Fledra was not going out at all."
"Do you know why?"
"Why, I supposed that it was because their father had asked for them and they feared some foul play."
"Foul play!" cried Brimbecomb. "Why, Mrs. Vandecar, don't you think that a father ought to have his own children?" Everett's eyes pierced her gaze until it dropped.
"Not if he is bad," murmured she, "and I heard he was brutal to them."