She made an effort to collect herself, loosened her arm from my hold and with an instinctive movement pushed forward the old bonnet, which had slipped to the back of her head.
"'E 'asn't been in to 'is dinner," she said hurriedly. "I've been on the Common looking for 'im."
"He may have made a mistake in the time," I suggested.
She made a movement as though to push me on one side, and turned towards the door. She was calculating again. Her expression said quite plainly, "Could he be there, could he be there?"
"Come, come," I said, "there is surely no need to be anxious yet."
She turned on me. "'E never makes a mistake in the time," she said fiercely, "'e always knows the time to the minute without clock or watch. Why did you leave 'im alone?"
She broke off in her attack upon me and continued: "'E's never been late before, not a minute, and now it's a hour after 'is time."
"He may be at home by now," I said. She took the hint instantly and started back again with the same stumbling little run.
I picked up my hat and followed her.