"The Miss Fennells," said I, "are in Youghal, and will not return till late this evening."
"Why did you ask, then?" she replied, and there was the suggestion in her voice that it was I who should be blamed for leading her to tell the lie.
"I asked," said I, "because I wanted to know."
"When you tell a person nothing yourself," she answered, "that's the very worst reason you could have," and after that I could get her to say no more.
CHAPTER XXI
I am consumed with the belief that something has happened. On the assumption of her instinct alone Bellwattle has taken matters into her own hands. Her visit of the evening before last to the Miss Fennells' house had for its intention a talk with Clarissa. Whether she saw her or not I cannot rightly guess. Somehow it would seem that she did.
After breakfast yesterday morning she called me out into the garden and begged me to stay over the week-end till Tuesday or Wednesday at least. No sooner had she made this request than I turned and faced her.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because we want you to."
"You've said you wanted me to stay an indefinite length of time. But why Tuesday or Wednesday?"