“Not for four or five weeks.”
“Then you don’t know. Oh, Alick, do you think it was right to leave your home without giving your address, in case anything should happen to require your presence. Oh, Alick!”
“Anna, since the death of my dear father and mother, in addition to the grief for their loss I have been oppressed with the cares of the estate. I wished to get rid of trouble for a little while. And so, to prevent old Dorset from writing to me about business, I came away without leaving my address.”
“And suppose, Alick, something of importance should have required your attention in the meantime? Some matter of life or death?”
“Well, thank Heaven, no such matter has turned up. I see you before me in health and beauty. And I hear you say that my uncle is quite well.”
“And yet something has happened. Come with me, Alick, to the window yonder,” said Anna, in a low voice, as she walked off to a distant part of the room.
“Have you really heard nothing from Dorset, Alick?” she inquired, when they stood together at some distance from every one else in the library.
“No; I hope nothing has happened to the poor old fellow?” said Alexander, uneasily.
“Oh, no, not to him, or to any of the servants. Oh, Alick, I am so sorry to be the first to tell you.”
“Of what in the name of Heaven, Anna, since you and your grandfather, and even old Dorset and the servants are well.”