A great relief had suddenly eased my heart. I drew a little breath, but she looked as if I had struck her a blow.
“How is your father?” she asked. “Is there any news?”
I nodded.
“He is better; he is gone away.”
She started.
“Gone away? Where to?” she added, quickly.
“To London, and from there he is going to the sea,” I told her. “He does not say where. He is sending a locum tenens. I do not think that he will return here at all. We want him to go straight to Eastminster.”
She too seemed to share my relief, but my first thoughts were hers too.
“What will that girl say?”
“I cannot tell,” I answered; “she may be suspicious. At any rate we have a reprieve.”