Rose woke up early in the morning; Miss Manning was already awake.
"Did Rufie come last night?" asked the little girl.
"He had not come when I went to bed," was the answer. "Perhaps he came in afterwards."
"May I dress and go down and see?"
"Yes, if you would like to."
Rose dressed quicker than usual, and went downstairs. She came up again directly, with a look of disappointment.
"Miss Manning, he is not here," she said. "His chamber door is open, and I saw that he had not slept in his bed."
"Very likely Mr. Turner sent him out of the city on business," said Miss Manning, with an indifference which she did not feel.
"I wish he'd come," said Rose. "I shall give him a good scolding, when he gets home, for staying away so long."
"Has not Mr. Rushton come?" asked Mrs. Clayton, at the breakfast-table.