"I can't answer that question now."
"Hiven help both av us if Mary's good luncheon goes to waste," said Pat ominously. "That's all I have to say. She'll take it out av both av us."
"Tell her I'll be here for lunch," said Booth, with alacrity. From which it may be perceived that master and man were of one mind when it came to considering the importance of Mary.
Pat studied his watch for a moment with a calculating eye.
"It's half-past eliven now, sor," he announced. "D'ye think ye can make it?"
Booth reflected. "I think not," he said. "I'll have luncheon first." Whereupon he leaped from the trap and went in to tell Mary how happy he was to be where he could enjoy home-cooking.
At four he was delivered at Sara's door by the astute Patrick, announced by the sedate Watson and interrogated by the intelligent Murray, who seemed surprised to hear that he would NOT have anything cool to drink. Sara sent word that she would be down in fifteen minutes, but, as a matter of fact, appeared in less than three.
She came directly to the point.
"Well," she said, with her mysterious smile, "she sent you back to me, I see." He was still clasping her hand.
"Have you heard from her?" he asked quickly.