“No, no. They have not seen him.”
“He has not been with the pupils?”
“No.”
“Oh, my dear, my dear, what does it mean?” cried Aunt Hannah.
“It is impossible to say,” said the doctor, “but we must be cool. Vane is not a boy to run away.”
“Oh, no.”
“So I have sent Bruff over to ask what time he got to Lenby, and what time he left, and, if possible, to find out which way he returned. Bruff may meet him. We don’t know what may have kept him. Nothing serious, of course.”
But the doctor’s words did not carry conviction; and, as if sympathising with his wife, he took and pressed her hand.
“Come, come,” he whispered, “try and be firm. We have no reason for thinking that there is anything wrong.”
“No,” said Aunt Hannah, with a brave effort to keep down her emotion.—“Yes, Eliza, what is it?”