Her lips tightened over her dazzling teeth at the mention of the guardian, and I could see she didn't like him. She spoke in a sneering sort of voice and said:
"Ah! Really?"
Then, feeling there was nothing more to discuss, I got up and cleared.
"Let me know if anything transpires," she said, and not happening to remember exactly what "transpire" meant, I merely said that no doubt the Doctor would tell her all that might happen in the future about Bradwell.
She shook hands in a kindly manner and saw me to the gate. And such was her friendly spirit that she picked a small blue flower and gave it to me to wear.
"Put it in your buttonhole," she said, which I did do until I was out of sight, and could chuck it away without hurting her feelings.
The Doctor didn't seem to like what I had to say, and evidently thought I hadn't got it right.
"His aunt appears as callous as his guardian," said the Doctor. "I am to understand that he went out on Sunday morning and did not return, and that Miss Mason has not the slightest idea where he has gone to?"
"That's what she made me understand, sir," I said.
"I fail to credit it," answered the Doctor. Then he dismissed me, rather slightingly, and sent for Brown, who always does the detective business at Merivale.