“Oh, very well!” said Nicky, shrugging up his shoulders and then blinking at the twinge this gesture cost him, “I suppose it is Carlyon’s doing, and no concern of mine! I am sure I am very glad to hear that he has gone, for that puts me quite at liberty to go on searching for Bouncer, which I had a deal rather do than thrust myself in where I am not needed!”
Miss Beccles looked up at him in dismay. “I fear you are not quite pleased, dear Mr. Nicky!” she faltered.
“Pleased! No such thing! I am excessively pleased, ma’am! I rate Bouncer a trifle higher than Francis Cheviot, I can tell you! And if Carlyon should inquire after me, you may tell him that I am gone off on my own affairs and have no notion when I shall be back, but he need not trouble his head over me for I shall contrive very well by myself!”
Having delivered himself of this embittered speech, he stalked out of the room, leaving Miss Beccles in quite a flutter of apprehension, and unable to hazard any guess as to the cause of his annoyance.
It was four o’clock before Mrs. Cheviot put in an appearance. She came down then, however, looking a little pale still, but declaring herself to be quite restored. “I must have been asleep for hours!” she said. “No indeed, I have not got the headache now, Becky—or only the least little degree of headache: nothing to regard!”
“My love, I wish you had stayed on your bed! And you have removed your bandage! Now, my dear Mrs. Cheviot, is this wise? Is it prudent?”
“You would not have had me continuing to go about looking such a figure of fun!” Elinor protested.
“I am sure it was no such thing! Besides, there is no one to see you but me, my love, for Mr. Nicky is out looking for poor Bouncer and he said he did not know when he might return. I do not know what should have occurred to provoke him, but the fact is he was sadly out of spirits when he came in an hour ago.”
“Oh, is Nicky cross? Perhaps Mr. Cheviot has vexed him! Has that odious creature taken to his bed again? I have a very good mind to tell Mrs. Barrow not to be making him any more gruel, in the hope that he may thus be induced to leave Highnoons!”
“Oh, my love, there is no need! He has gone!”