"I wanted to look at your beautiful old chest," explained the visitor. "I caught sight of it through the open door."
"You are very welcome, miss," she answered, "and there's a still better one in the kitchen—if you care to see that? We have a good few old things—that came down from Bode's grandmother—Bode was my husband—he's dead, poor man—this ten year."
Nancy followed the woman down a long flagged passage, and found herself in a heavily-beamed, low room,—with a vast fireplace. Here she discovered a fine oak settle, a dresser and a chest,—with the date, sixteen hundred and seventy. Nancy was in raptures, and fell in love with an old blue bowl, that she saw on the dresser. She admired it with such heartfelt enthusiasm, that the woman,—honestly displaying various cracks,—declared that "it had been her grandfather's, but now leaked. If the young lady fancied it—she could have it for a shilling."
But Nancy protested, and said, "I wouldn't dream of imposing on your generosity"—she did not like to use the word "ignorance," and added, "I will gladly give you a sovereign for it"—and produced her purse. The bargain being concluded to their mutual satisfaction, and Sir Dudley having approved of the family chest, and bench, they took leave of the hostess, and returned to the entrance, but here, to their utter and speechless amazement, there was no motor to be seen!
"Where is he?" cried Nancy, looking up and down the road. "Has he taken the car into the yard?"
No, neither car, nor chauffeur were about the premises—they had mysteriously disappeared,—as if dissolved into thin air. Whilst Nancy and her companion stood bewildered, and exclaiming, a youth on a shaggy colt trotted up.
"Dan, did you see a motor?" demanded his mother.
"I did, it passed me just now—going at a great rate."
"What is to be done?" said Nancy, turning to Sir Dudley in despair.
"I understand what's happened; the fellow didn't notice us getting out, he was round in the yard at the time, and, thinking we were still in the car, he has driven off, and left us! Is there any station near this?" turning to the woman.