'Don't ask me anything about George,' said Mrs. Palmer, putting up her hands.
This was the day after the ball, but no George came, although Dolly looked for him at every instant. John Morgan, of his own accord, sent a second message to him and another to Raban. In the course of the day an answer arrived from the tutor: 'G. left Cambridge yesterday. Your telegram to him lying unopened.'
CHAPTER XXXVII.
IN AN EMPTY ROOM.
Nor dare I chide the world-without-end hour.
—Shakspeare.
The next day Dolly, coming down into the garden, found Raban with her mother, and she went up eagerly to meet him, hoping for the news she was looking for. But news there was none, although her mother, arm-in-arm with Raban, had been for the last hour slowly pacing the gravel-walks, recapitulating all their anxieties and all the complaints they had against that tiresome boy.
'The Admiral will be so shocked. I expect him hourly; and I look to you, Mr. Raban, to tell me the plain truth.'
The plain truth was that Frank could discover nothing of George. All that long day he had followed up every trace, been everywhere, questioned every one, including Rhoda, without result. He had come now in the faint hope of finding him at home after all. When Dolly came to meet them, he thought she looked anxious enough already, and he made light of his long efforts, and shrugged his shoulders.