The words, spoken sharply, came from Miss Timmens. But if she did possess a sharp-toned tongue, she was good and kind at heart. The young crew were sitting down at the long table to the savoury pies and tartlets; Miss Timmens, taking stock of them, missed Nettie.
“Jane Bright, go and find Nettie Trewin.”
Not daring to disobey the curt command, but looking as though she feared her portion of the good things would be eaten up during her absence, Jane Bright disappeared. Back she came in a brace of shakes, saying Nettie “was not there.”
“Maria Lease, where’s Nettie Trewin?” asked Miss Timmens.
Maria turned from the table. “Nettie Trewin?” she repeated, looking about her. “I don’t know. She must be somewhere or other.”
“I wish to goodness you’d find her then.”
Maria Lease could not see anything of the child. “Nettie Trewin” was called out high and low; but it brought forth no response. The servants were sent to look over the house, with no better result.
“She is hiding somewhere in her shyness,” said Miss Timmens. “I have a great mind to punish her for this.”
“She can’t have got into the rain-water butt?” suggested the Squire. “Molly, go and look.”
It was not very likely: as the barrel was quite six feet high. But, as the Squire once got into the water-butt to hid himself when he was a climbing youngster, and had reasons for anticipating a whipping, his thoughts naturally flew to it.