There happened to be a considerable gathering at the Court that evening. Besides the guests in the house, not a few neighbours were present; and the beautiful old mahogany table loaded with fine silver, and softly shaded candelabra, surrounded by smart and well-favoured young people, looked very gay indeed. The racing party, who had scrambled into their clothes, gradually dropped in between soup, and the second entrée, and heartlessly announced that "the others had evidently lost their way!" It certainly looked like it, for as time advanced, no one appeared to fill the two vacant places;—and vacant places, make a gap, and spoil the symmetry of a dinner table, much as a missing front tooth, mars a pretty face!
"They certainly ought to be here by this time," remarked Mrs. De Wolfe, consulting her wristlet watch, "it's just half-past nine."
"Perhaps the car has broken down?" suggested Major Horne, "and they are walking home!"
"A fairly long walk," said Billy Miller, "and a hatefully lonely road."
"Oh! Dudley won't mind that," said Josie, in an intimate aside.
It had been a lively and festive meal, the guests were all in high good humour. Dessert had been disposed of, and the ladies were awaiting Mrs. De Wolfe's "eye," when Sutton, the butler, entered with unusual solemnity, and bending his head, made some grave announcement in the immediate vicinity of her left ear.
"Nonsense!" she exclaimed in a startled tone, "nonsense!"
"What is it?" demanded Mayne, and his voice sounded masterful, and imperious.
"Sutton tells me, that the car has come back, and that it is empty!"—Meanwhile Sutton stood by, with a face as expressionless as a dinner plate!
"Empty!" echoed Mrs. Horne; "what does he mean?—where are Nancy, and Sir Dudley?"