The message to Wyn did not strike anyone as of paramount importance, and was sent down by the footman.
“Tell little Warren the pony won’t be wanted. Mr Edgar is ill. Warren is to get something, I believe, in the wood—flowers, I suppose—but they won’t be wanted to-day.”
This information was finally shouted out to Wyn by the stable-boy as he fed the peacocks before coming up for orders:
“Mr Edgar’s ill and can’t go out, but he says you’re to pick him some flowers instead.”
“Is that all?” said Wyn, horrified.
“That’s all, as I knows on.”
“But I say, what’s the matter with Mr Edgar?”
“Didn’t hear—that was my message.”
Wyn was a very sharp boy. He had been told by Edgar as little as possible, except as to the identity of the two strangers whom he had seen in the wood, as to which he was sworn to secrecy; but after puzzling a little over the message about the flowers he came to the conclusion that the best thing he could do was to keep Mr Edgar’s appointment for him. He was detained all the morning by Mrs Elton, under whose superintendence he attended to the fancy poultry, to give them an extra cleaning, as Mr Edgar did not want him; and when he went home to dinner he found his own family in a state of excitement and hurry.
Lady Carleton, at Ravenshurst, wanted a girl to help her nurse for a few weeks, and by favour of the wife of the Ravenshurst keeper had sent to see if Mrs Warren’s niece could come over.