When they finally joined one another, Frank slipped his arm through his wife's. "Oh, I have a piece of news for you, dear. I forgot to tell you. I had a cable from Frieda's husband telling me that he expected to sail for England in about ten days. He did not give his reason, nor mention Frieda's coming with him." "No," Lady Kent answered apparently in a state of abstraction, "I don't suppose he did." But at the moment she made no[21] mention of the information Olive had brought her concerning Frieda. [21] As they reached Kent House and were entering the broad hall, Jack said to her husband under her breath, so that Olive who was a little in advance of them, did not hear: "There is something else you have on your mind, isn't there, Frank—some news you have not yet told me?" Frank Kent nodded. "Yes, Jack, something so serious that I dare not speak of it even to you. Perhaps it will all blow over though, and I may be able to discuss the subject with you in a few days." [22] [22] CHAPTER II The two friends were coming down from the third floor of Kent House where the babies' nurseries were. Jack and Frank had two children—the oldest a small boy, something over three years old, and called Jimmie, in honor of Jim Colter, the Ranch Girls' guardian and the one-time overseer and now part owner of the Rainbow Ranch. The baby, who was only a year old, had been named for Olive Van Mater, who had never seen her until her present visit. But there would be no confusion of names, for almost immediately the small brother had rechristened his tiny sister with the charming little name "Vive," which was used for her always. And since Vive was the gayest and liveliest of babies, this name with its translated meaning, "Life" was supposed to be particularly appropriate. "No, Frieda did not say," Olive Van[23] Mater returned. "But I presume she will cable in a day or so. Frieda will expect you to be in London to meet her. I am sure she will feel much aggrieved if you do not, but I think I won't come along, Jack, if I may stay with the babies." [23] Lady Kent opened the door of a room.
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