Lottie’s heart sank within her.
“Mrs. Bolder thinks,” continued Mrs. Green, “that Mr. Gritton has just gone off to Lunnon to be out of the way of infection; but it’s odd enough that he should have gone away without his hat, for that’s hanging up in the hall; and its odder still that he should have been pulling about the furniture like a madman. Hannah told Mrs. Bolder, though she did not say a word of it to trouble Miss Gritton, that she found the study in strange disorder—the table pulled out of its place, the very drugget rolled up!”
Lottie was hardly able to stifle the sudden exclamation which rose to her lips.
Having unburdened herself of her news, Mrs. Green suddenly remembered that her kettle would be boiling over, and bustled out of the room. Lottie waited impatiently for a few seconds, till she was certain that the landlady was out of hearing, and then with energy exclaimed, “Mother, mother, I must be off to Wildwaste; I’m sure and certain I’m wanted.”
“I’m sorry you ever left your good place there, Lottie; maybe they would not take you back now,” said Deborah sadly. As Lottie had had the small-pox in her childhood, her mother did not fear her catching the complaint.
“Whether they will take me back or not, mother, I must go,” said Lottie emphatically; “master’s lost—maybe I’ll find him!” and hurriedly, as if every moment were precious, she took down from their peg her straw-bonnet and cloak.
“It’s getting on in the day, my child, and a walk to Wildwaste is a deal too long for you now. To-morrow I’ll get the baker to take you in his cart—at least a good bit of the way.”
Lottie clasped her hands with a look of anxious entreaty. “Don’t stay me, mother, don’t stay me. If Wildwaste were twice as far off, I’d walk all the same. I can’t stop till to-morrow; I should not close an eye all the night!”
Deborah had never before known her young daughter’s mind so resolutely bent upon any course; she saw that some very urgent motive indeed was drawing Lottie towards Wildwaste. She believed this motive to be affection towards her young mistress, and gave up opposing the wishes of her child; only insisting on her taking with her a small bundle of clothes, and refreshing herself by a cup of tea before she started. In less than a quarter of an hour Lottie was hastening on her way towards Wildwaste.