"Oh, all right," agreed the doctor briskly, "then you can ride down to Tirraputty, and send off a couple of wires. It will take you about three hours to get there,—riding hard."
"What about Mrs. Ffinch's car? I can drive a motor."
"She's away in it herself!—gone for a week's tour. She took my girl Jessie, and Nellie Meach, and left no address. 'Expect me when you see me' style. Ah, here comes Nancy!" as the girl, now looking strangely worn, and haggard, came into the verandah.
"What are you two conspiring about?" she asked, with a startled expression.
"I'm only telling Mayne a piece of news. Mrs. Ffinch is away on a motor tour."
"Oh!"—evidently relieved—"is that all?"
"Word of honour, yes," the doctor lied with emphasis.
"Won't you stay and have something?" she urged.
"Oh, well, I don't mind. Just anything at all—a bit of cold meat, and a hunch of bread.—I'll ask for a shake-down, too."
"A shake-down!" staring at him with widely-opened eyes; "then you think——" and she paused, unable to utter another syllable, or articulate her heartsick uneasiness.