The agent shook his head.
“Not till to-morrow morning,” he said. “I have a very clever builder close at hand, who could give a rough idea almost at once, but not this evening. You are not staying the night at Blissmore, I suppose, madam?”
“We had not thought of doing so,” Mrs Derwent replied doubtfully.
“It would save a good deal of time, and indeed the man would almost need to see you to receive your personal instructions,” said Mr Otterson. “If it is impossible, perhaps you can manage to come down again next week.”
Blanche looked at her mother, as if to ask leave to speak.
“Yes, my dear?” said Mrs Derwent inquiringly.
“I think, mamma, it would be a good plan to stay the night,” she said. “It would be less tiring for you, and we should feel more settled if we knew a little more.”
“I think so too,” said Mrs Derwent. “We can telegraph to Jermyn Street, so that Herty and Aline will not be frightened. I suppose there is a good hotel here?”
Mr Otterson hesitated.
“There are one or two fairly comfortable, but not exactly what I should recommend for ladies,” he said.