“Gone?” repeated Archer Clifton, incredulously.
“Yes, sir.”
“Gone!” he reiterated, in amazement.
“Yes, sir. We certainly thought that you were aware of her departure.”
“Most certainly not! Gone! When? how? excuse me, madam, but where has she gone?”
“We do not know, sir, indeed, since you cannot tell us. We thought that she had gone to join you, at Mr. Perry’s. We were very sorry, but—”
“How long since she left? How did she go? Pardon my vehemence, dear madam.”
“We partake of your anxiety, sir. Mrs. Clifton left us about four hours since, at seven o’clock, immediately after breakfast. She went away on the horse that was brought here yesterday as her own. She left us very much against our arguments and persuasions. We would gladly have detained her.”
“Gone! Good Heavens, was she able to go.”
“No, sir, assuredly she was not.”