Even Jessie ceased to scoff at this turn in events. She took her sister’s hand quite kindly, and said, “Of course she’s not lost, girls can’t lose themselves in that fashion. Let’s go to father, and he’ll soon find her.”
Jessie’s sympathy was uncommonly sweet to Molly just then, and the two children appeared in the breakfast-room. Mrs. Wyndham was seated opposite the tea-tray; and her husband was crunching some toast, eating an egg, stirring his coffee, and reading his morning paper all at the same time. He heard his wife say, “One of you girls had better go upstairs and bring Peggy Desmond down to breakfast,” when suddenly a sob from Molly’s lips caused the man to drop his paper and the lady to put down the cream-jug and turn with a sense of dismay to hear the news.
“Father, I can’t find her anywhere.”
“Can’t find who?” inquired Mrs. Wyndham.
“Peggy Desmond, mother. I went into her bedroom this morning with a cup of tea, but she was gone, gone quite away, I don’t know where! And I have been searching all the place for her, and inquiring of every one. I didn’t want to frighten you until it was necessary to tell; but I had to at last. She’s gone, she’s lost, perhaps she’s drowned. Oh father! father!”
“Molly, don’t be such a little goose,” said her mother. “There now, my dear,” she continued, turning to her husband, “you see for yourself what a great mistake you made when you brought that wild Irish creature over to upset us all round and disturb the happiness of our own children.”
“Never mind that now, Lucy, we’ve got to find the poor little creature. I am exceedingly sorry that I didn’t take better care of her.”
“Better care!” cried Mrs. Wyndham. “I’m sure no one could accuse you on that account. You went to Ireland and fetched her over, and did all that man could for her benefit, and this is the way she treats you!”
“Well, the great thing at present is to find her,” said Mr. Wyndham. “I will go immediately and start inquiries.—Molly, sit down and eat some breakfast. Stop crying, love, the child cannot be far away. I’ll bring her back. When I do I’ve one request to make.”
“What is that?” asked his wife. She looked up at him, and noticed the stern expression on his brow.