In another minute he had on his coat, and had gone off to the milkman's to see if she were there. The others waited. Molly tried guiltily to comfort Nell, and to excuse herself.
"Oh, do be quiet!" Nell interrupted her. "Can't you at least do that?"
Denis returned with no news of her.
"She may have gone to Mr. Yovil's or to Sarah's home—"
"Or Ted Lancaster's—Denis," Nell's voice was desperate, "she's been gone nearly three hours! I can't stay here. I'll go to Sarah's, while you go—"
"You will not! You cannot go out alone! It is dark and raining," Miss Kezia interrupted.
Nell gave a queer little laugh.
"I'm going," she said.
"Nell," Denis interposed, "I'll get you a cab. You go to Mr. Yovil's—I'll go off to Lancaster's. Sarah will go home." His tone was quietly authoritative.
Miss Kezia found herself put aside and everyone obeying him implicitly. In reality she was very uneasy and anxious herself, but she hid it beneath a cold and disapproving manner.