"Where is your brother?" Lulu asked presently.
"Gone to see Lawrence Puttenham off at the T— railway station, I expect; but I have not seen him since daybreak. I have been at Home Vale with Miss Pring, she has been very kind to me. I wish I might go back to her again instead of remaining here." Celia's wish was to be granted her, for when Mrs. Wallis came into the drawing-room a short while later, it was to inform the two girls that Sir Jasper had ordered the pony carriage to drive Lulu home to T—, and she added that Celia was to accompany her as far as Home Vale, where she was to stay for the present.
"Miss Pring very kindly said she would be pleased to have you as her visitor," Mrs. Wallis told her elder daughter. "I find all our belongings have been destroyed, and, under the circumstances, it will not be convenient for Uncle Jasper to have us here any longer. On Monday, if all's well, and if Dr. Forbes considers Joy is sufficiently strong to bear the journey, we shall all return to A—."
"Oh, mother," cried Celia, "this is my doing!"
"Yes, Celia, it is," Mrs. Wallis admitted, gravely. Her face was very pale, and she had been weeping, but she was perfectly posed.
"Oh, how sorry I am!" cried Lulu. "I fear I shall never, never see any of you again! How sad it is! Mrs. Wallis, mayn't I come and see Joy before you go?"
"Assuredly you may, my dear. Has Celia told you—"
"Yes, yes! Oh, I am so grieved! perhaps something may be done to cure her poor hip. Oh, I hear the wheels of the pony carriage! Do you think I ought to say good-bye to Sir Jasper before I leave?"
Mrs. Wallis shook her head and explained that her uncle was far from well, having been terribly agitated by all that had taken place during the last twenty-four hours. She accompanied the two girls to the front door, and saw them driven off, then returned to the drawing-room, where she stood looking out of the window until someone came behind her and slipped his arm around her waist.
"Eric," she cried gladly, and laid her head on her son's shoulder.