‘I’m a fool to expect anything from such a child,’ she thought.
At two o’clock the Vicar hurried into the bank. ‘Good morning, Mr. Goldsmith, I beg your pardon; I wanted to ask if Mr. O’More has seen little Maurice Kendal.’
‘Not since yesterday—what’s the matter?’
‘The child is not come in to dinner. He is nowhere at home or at Willow Lawn.’
‘Ha!’ cried Ulick. ‘Can he be gone to see his pony at Hobbs’s!’
‘No, it has been sent to Fairmead. Then you have no notion where the child can be? Sophy is nearly distracted. She saw him last about ten o’clock, bent on harnessing some kittens, but he’s not in the hay-loft!’
‘He may be gone to the toy-shop after the harness. Or has anyone looked in the church-tower—he was longing to go up it, and if the door were open—’
‘The very thing!’ cried the Vicar. ‘I’ll go this moment.’
‘Or there’s old Peter, the sailor,’ called Ulick; ‘if he wanted any tackle fitted, he might go to him.’
‘You had better go yourself, More,’ said Mr. Goldsmith. ‘One would not wish to keep poor Miss Kendal in suspense, though I dare say the boy is safe enough.’