At half-past one o'clock on Thursday, the eighth of October, I was in the sitting-room, when I saw the figure of Mrs. Stott coming across the Common. She came with a little stumbling run. I could see that she was agitated even before she reached the farmyard gate.
CHAPTER XVII
RELEASE
I
She opened the front door without knocking, and came straight into my sitting-room.
"'E's not 'ere," she said in a manner that left it doubtful whether she made an assertion or asked a question.
"Your son?" I said. I had risen when she came into the room, "No; I haven't seen him to-day."
Ellen Mary was staring at me, but it was clear that she neither saw nor heard me. She had a look of intense concentration. One could see that she was calculating, thinking, thinking....
I went over to her and took her by the arm. I gently shook her. "Now, tell me what's the matter? What has happened?" I asked.