“But, Hannah, we must have her directly; I am late as it is.”
They were going over to the Court to a children’s early party at the Sterlings’. Mrs. Todhetley stepped out of the basket-chaise to help in the search.
“I had better fetch her, Tod,” I whispered.
He nodded yes. Tod never bore malice, and I suppose he thought Hannah had had enough of a hunt for that day. I ran through the fold-yard to the ricks, and called to Lena.
“You can come out now, little stupid.”
But no Lena answered. There were seven ricks in a group, and I went into all the openings between them. Lena was not there. It was rather odd, and I looked across the field and towards the lane and the coppice, shouting out sturdily.
“Mack, have you seen Miss Lena pass indoors?” I stayed to ask him, in going back.
No: Mack had not noticed her; and I went round to the front again, and whispered to Tod.
“What a muff you are, Johnny! She’s between the ricks fast enough. No danger that she’d come out when I told her to stay!”
“But she’s not there indeed, Tod. You go and look.”