“Oh, how selfish I am!” said Evelyn at once. “Yes, of course I will run, Jasper. I can walk quite well now. I have got over my first fright. The great thing of all is to hurry. And you are certain, certain sure they will not look for me at The Priory?”
“Well, now, darling, how could they? Nobody but Sylvia knows that I live at The Priory, and why should they think that you had gone there? No; it is the police they will question, and the village they will go to, and the railway maybe. But it is fun to think of the fine chase we are giving them, and all to no purpose.”
Evelyn laughed, and the two, holding each other’s hands, continued on their way. By and by they reached the back entrance to The Priory. Jasper had left the gate a little ajar. Pilot came up to show attentions; he began to growl at Evelyn, but Jasper laid her hand on his big forehead.
“A friend, good dog! A little friend, Pilot,” was Jasper’s remark; and then Pilot wagged his tail and allowed his friend Jasper—to whom he was much attached, as she furnished him with unlimited chicken-bones—to go to the house. Two or three minutes later Evelyn found herself established in Jasper’s snug, pretty little bedroom. There the fire blazed; supper was in course of preparation. Evelyn flung herself down on a chair and panted slightly.
“So this is where you live?” she said.
“Yes, my darling, this is where I live.”
“And where is Sylvia?” asked Evelyn.
“She is having supper with her father at the present moment.”
“Oh! I should like to see her. How excited and astonished she will be! She won’t tell—you are sure of that, Jasper?”
“Tell! Sylvia tell!” said Jasper. “Not quite, my dearie.”