Joe Banks himself spread the news by going and making inquiries in all directions directly he was up.
For, on waking about half-past five, according to his regular custom, and jumping out of bed to dress and go into his garden, as he had no work, he found to his astonishment that his wife had not been to bed; and she now came to him, crying bitterly, to say that she had been sitting up all night waiting for Daisy.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he roared.
“I wanted to screen her, Joe,” moaned Mrs Banks. “I thought you’d be so popped with the poor girl; and though I didn’t like her goings on, I didn’t want her to be scolded.”
“What time did she go out?” said Joe, trying to recall the past night.
“About eight, and I expected her back every minute after ten.”
“Here, give me my hat,” cried Joe; and he was off to the main street, where, in answer to inquiries, he found that Daisy had been seen in the High Street soon after eight.
“What’s wrong?” said Tom Podmore, coming out of his house.
“Daisy! hev you seen my Daisy?” said Joe, furiously.
“Yes, I see her go up the street last night at about eight,” said Tom, “as if going up the hill by the chalk pit.”