There was so much that she wanted to ask and to hear, and concerning which no one had as yet vouchsafed information. Ron could tell her all that was to be told, which it was impossible to pass another night without knowing, yet there he sat, sublimely unconscious that she wanted to be assured of anything but his own safety. With the energy of despair, Margot forced herself to put a question.
“How are all—the others?”
“The Elgoods? They are all right. Awfully worried about you, you know, and that sort of thing. Afraid the governor might think they were to blame. The idea of your going down with pneumonia, and frightening us all into fits! I thought you were too healthy to be bowled over so soon, but a London life doesn’t fit one for exposure. The governor was furious with me for bringing you to the North.”
But for once Margot was not interested in her father’s feelings. She turned her head on the pillow and put yet another question.
“They did not catch colds, too?”
“Oh, colds!” Ron laughed lightly. “Of course, we all had colds; what else could you expect? We were lucky to get off so easily. The Elgoods put off leaving until you were safely round the corner, but they are off first thing to-morrow.”
At this there was a quick rustle of the bedclothes.
“Going? Where?” asked a startled voice, in which sounded an uncontrollable quiver of apprehension. “Not away for altogether?”
“Yes! Their time was up three days ago. It is awfully decent of them to have stayed on for so long. We shall meet in town, I suppose; but your Editor man is no use to me, Margot. That little scheme has fallen flat. From first to last he has never troubled to show the faintest interest in my existence, and has avoided the governor all he knew. The Chieftain is worth a dozen of him. He has kept the whole thing going this last week, amused the governor, looked after Edith, been a perfect brick to me. I’m glad we came, if it were only for the sake of making his acquaintance, for he is the grandest man I’ve ever known; but your scheme has failed, old girl.”
From Margot’s expression it would appear that everything on earth had failed. Her face looked as white as the pillow against which she rested, and her eyes were tragic in her despairing sadness. Ron bestirred himself to comfort her, full of gratitude for so heartfelt an interest.