* * * * *
Rowcliffe judged that this confusion of the Vicar's would be favorable to his experiment.
And it was.
When Mr. Cartaret saw his youngest daughter for the first time since their violent rupture he gazed at her tranquilly and said, "And where have you been all this time?"
"Not very far, Papa."
He smiled sweetly.
"I thought you'd run away from your poor old father. Let me see—was it Ally? My memory's going. No. It was Gwenda who ran away. Wasn't it Gwenda?"
"Yes, Papa."
"Well—she must come back again. I can't do without Gwenda."
"She has come back, Papa."