"That's the only possible way to look at it," said Valerie. "It's all our servants' fault, and we're only too thankful to be able——"
"You're very sweet," said Anne wistfully. "But to be saddled with me for six weeks——"
"Hush!" said Valerie, with a grave smile. "You promised not to talk like that."
Anne Alison sighed.
"It is unfortunate, though," she said. "I can't think what they'll do at The Shrubbery. If only Anthony hadn't just left…. You knew he'd gone, didn't you?"
Valerie shook her head.
"I knew he was going," she said.
"He left on Monday," said Anne. "We're all heart-broken. He was wonderful to work with, and nobody could help liking him. George is desperate about it. Being a man, you see…. Besides, they were a lot together. On the car, I mean. Off duty we never saw much of him. He liked being alone. I think I'm the only one he went for a walk with all the time he was there. And then Betty sent him. He'd never seen the view from The Beacon, so I took him. He was bored stiff, and we got soaked coming home, but he was very nice and polite about it. He always was. And now, I suppose——"
"The Beacon?" said Valerie faintly. "Where—where's The Beacon?"
"I don't know what its real name is," said Anne. "We always call it 'The Beacon.' You must know it. That very high place in Red King Walk, where the cliff goes sheer down…."