"Nothing so romantic," said Miss Jones regretfully.
But her regrets were as nothing to those of the Hostel when they learnt what had happened.
It was impossible to conceal it from them, since the window of the ground-floor bedroom had been open, and Mrs. Potter and Miss Marsh, leaning from it, and listening eagerly, had heard every word of Captain Trevellyan's final discourse to Miss Jones, and her repeated assurances of being now completely restored.
They flew into the hall to meet her.
"Gracie dear, what has happened to you? Tony was in such a state when she found you hadn't come in with her and the others."
"Was it that beastly raid upset you?"
Grace once more repudiated the raid with as much energy as she could muster.
"You look as white as a sheet, dear! Come into the sitting-room."
Every one was in the sitting-room, including those first back from the Canteen, and the pseudo-invalids who, having been in bed when the raid began, felt that only tea could enable them to face the night, and had hurried down in search of it.
"Oh, Gracie, there you are! I was just going back to see what had become of you," said Tony.