She is leaning back in an easy-chair, feeling and looking distinctly vexed. Maurice is away. This morning he had started for town to meet his mother, and bring her back with him for a short stay at Oakdean. He had gone away directly after breakfast, telling them all he would be home by the evening if possible; but he feared the journey would be too long for his mother, and that probably she would spend the night in town. In the meantime, if anything in the shape of a murder or an elopement should occur, they might telegraph to Claridge's. He had then turned and smiled at Tita.
"I leave them all in your care," he had said.
Was there meaning in his smile—was it a little entreaty to her to be "good" during his absence?
"Well, she's in bed, any way," says Tita; "and the question is, what shall we do now?"
"Dance!" says someone.
But they have been dancing every evening, and there seems nothing very special about that.
"I tell you what," says Tita; "let us have hide-and-seek!"
"Oh, how lovely!" cries Mrs. Chichester, springing to her feet.
"What a heavenly suggestion!"
"Yes; two to hunt, and all the rest to hide in couples," says Tom
Hescott.
It has occurred to him that he would like to hunt with Tita, or else to hide with her; and it might be managed. Margaret, who happens to be looking at him, makes a slight movement forward.