"I don't know. Right away somewhere; down South."
"Why did they go?"
"The master fell down dead; soon after New Year it were."
"Do you know if Miss Douglas went with them?"
"Who did you say?"
"Miss Douglas."
"Never heard of Miss Douglas. They've all gone, so I suppose she did."
That being all the information he could extract from the boy, Captain Fortescue returned to the station, feeling much depressed by the result of his expedition. What had become of Marjorie Douglas? Would he ever be able to discover? He thought once of writing to Rosthwaite to inquire, but on second thoughts, he dismissed the idea promptly. What right had he to make such an inquiry? None whatever; nor did he see any prospect that such a right would ever be his.
So he went back to his hard work and his lonely life as contentedly as he could, and tried to banish the restless thoughts that came to disturb his peace of mind. He determined to take day by day as each came, doing the day's duty, bearing the day's care, and not allowing himself to indulge in daydreams of the future, which were never likely to become more than dreams.