'Gone! sailed thus suddenly without a letter of explanation, of farewell, or the time of her return being even hinted to me,' were Goring's natural thoughts.
'And what about Lord Cadbury?' he asked.
'Oh! he has gone too; the Court is shut up,' replied Mrs. Trelawney, with a faint approach to a smile.
'Gone too!' replied Goring, more mystified than ever.
Was she yielding to the pressure put upon her by Sir Ranald—yielding after all?
'And for where has the party sailed?' he asked.
'There is no party, on board, I understand, but only Lord Cadbury, Alison, and her father; and whither they have gone no one knows—they decamped so hurriedly. But you, at least, will certainly hear in time,' said Mrs. Trelawney, with a soft smile, as she knew well how deep was the interest Goring and Miss Cheyne had in each other.
'I am indeed surprised that—that Alison did not write about the whole affair to me.'
'Perhaps she did not know in time, or her letter may not have been—may have from some cause miscarried. So whether they are seeking the fiords of Norway or the source of the Nile we cannot know.'
'And who was your informant so far, Mrs. Trelawney?'