But when the first course was nearly over and the girl had not yet appeared, Mrs Asplin grew impatient, and despatched the servant to hasten her movements.
“Just tell her that we have been at table for nearly ten minutes. Ask if she will be long.”
Mary left the room, was absent a short time, and came back with an extraordinary statement.
“Miss Peggy is not in her room, ma’am.”
“Not in her room! Then she must have come downstairs. Perhaps she didn’t hear the gong. Just look in the schoolroom, Mary, and in the other rooms too, and tell her to come at once.”
Another few minutes passed, and back again came Mary, looking flushed and mysterious.
“I can’t see Miss Peggy anywhere, ma’am. She has not come downstairs.”
“You have looked in the drawing-room—Mr Asplin’s study?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Did you go upstairs again?”