“That is what I’ve always thought,” Miss Imogene agreed, and then there was silence. But only one of them really slept soundly that night.
CHAPTER XVI
AN UNEXPECTED DISAPPEARANCE
Dorothea had not expected to sleep a wink but she suddenly found herself awake with the sun streaming in at the window. She had a feeling that it was still early, but in a little she heard sounds coming from the direction of the cookhouse and there was a faint smell of fried bacon in the air, so that she knew it was not any too early to start Larry Stanchfield on his way, and she turned over to speak to Miss Imogene, a little fearful lest they had overslept.
To her surprise Miss Imogene’s place was empty and the girl looked about the room a little bewildered, and still somewhat sleepy. Then she jumped out of bed and put on a dressing-wrapper to be ready for anything that might happen.
She had not long to wait. In a few minutes Miss Imogene came noiselessly into the room with a face of anxious perplexity.
“What is it?” whispered Dorothea.
“I don’t know, child,” was the answer. “He’s gone.”
“Mr. Stanchfield?”
“Yes.”