Somehow she now felt much more at ease with Elsie than with either her uncle or aunt. Elsie was a whole-hearted believer in Harry Garlett’s innocence, and a believer, too, that he was sure to come out, as she put it, “all richt.” So it was that at the very last moment before quitting Bonnie Doon, she knew not for how long, Jean went into the kitchen and took tight hold of Elsie’s work-worn hand.
“I’m going away, Elsie,” she said, “in order to do something that may help Mr. Garlett. I can’t say more, and if I did they wouldn’t approve.”
The girl continued, somewhat bitterly: “They’ve wanted me to go away—they’ve longed for me to go away! Well, now I am going away. I don’t know for how long. Here’s a note in which I’ve given an address where I can be written to, and of course I’ll let them know how I am, now and again.”
Then as she heard the sound of a motor, the colour rushed to her face.
“They can’t be back yet,” she exclaimed in a dismayed tone.
Elsie smiled. “That’s the machine I just telephoned for to Grendon. You were never going to walk to the station? That would have been a foolish thing to do when maybe you’ve some hard days in front of you.”
Jean took Elsie in her arms and hugged her. Then she kissed her on both cheeks. “Good-bye, Elsie, I know that you wish me well.”
“Ay, indeed, I’ll be doing that.”
And so, very quietly and without consulting anybody, Jean Bower started on what was to be her great adventure. It was such a comfort to feel that to Rachel North, at least, she owed no explanations that she did not choose to give, no duty of any sort, only gratitude for present kindness done. It was also soothing to know that in London she would be but one of millions of people intent on their own business and not on hers. How different from a place where she could hardly walk a few steps in the daylight without knowing that even the village children were pointing her out to each other!
Cuthbert Street, Belgravia? The address sounded grand to her country ears. But she knew that Rachel North in far-away days had had a large circle of friends. Perhaps it was some kindly survivor of those distant days who had lent her a flat.