“Go before she wakes up, then.”
“Could one of the maids look after her, if she wakes?”
“Yes, of course. I shall be so obliged.”
So Ann set forth in the motor, glad of a free hour or two in the open. She enjoyed it to the full, and although it took longer than she had anticipated, she carried the gown to Mrs. Bryce’s door at five.
“So much obliged,” said that lady, sweetly.
The nursery was empty, so were the bedrooms. Ann asked the maids where Isabelle was. No one had seen her. She went out into the grounds and to all her favourite haunts, but no Isabelle. Then, thoroughly alarmed, she went to Mrs. Bryce’s door again.
“Mrs. Bryce, did you send a maid to look after Isabelle?”
“Oh, no, I forgot it”—in an annoyed tone.
“I can’t find her.”
“Can’t find her? Oh, she must be somewhere,”—absently.