“You ought to be stopped by the Foreign Office. You’ll lead to a war with Italy.”
“Go for a doctor, Cashel,” she cried aloud in her great voice. “Go for the doctor.”
“M’lady,” very faintly from the landing.
“And countermand the station cab, Cashel,” said Oswald.
“If you do anything of the sort, Cashel!” she cried, and sitting up in bed clutched the sheets with such violence that a large spring-sided boot became visible at the foot of the bed. The great lady had gone to bed in her boots. Aunt and nephew both glared at this revelation in an astonished silence.
“How can you, Auntie,” said Oswald.
“If I choose,” said Lady Charlotte. “If I choose——Oh! Go away!”
“Back to dinner,” said Oswald sweetly, and withdrew.
He was still pensive upon the landing when Unwin appeared to make sure that the station cab was not countermanded....
Under the circumstances he was not surprised to find on his return from The Ingle-Nook that he was now the only occupant of Chastlands. Aunt Charlotte had fled, leaving behind a note that had evidently been written before his arrival.