“I hate to be baffled,” said Anne. “And you may have forgotten that all I have in the world—here—has gone on the steamer.”
“Heavens, yes!” said Wareham, struck with this fresh complication. He looked so shocked that Anne in self-defence began to laugh.
“Did no one miss us? This is humiliating!” It appeared that Mrs Ravenhill inquired, and was told they intended to go on board without returning to the inn. Mrs Martyn stayed in a shop until the last moment, and had barely time to scramble on board; it was quite natural that she should suppose the others had been before her.
“So we have no one to blame but ourselves,” said Anne.
“But me,” corrected Wareham. “You disclaimed responsibility from the first.”
“Oh, we will share. It is less dull to hold together. And what does the landlord suggest? We can’t be the first castaways.”
“He says that the last victims took a boat, and were rowed to Ulvik. But Balholm is a good deal further,” Wareham said, after consultation.
Anne decided promptly.
“Very well. Please get a boat.”
“You venture?”