“True,” murmured the Vicar. “You are very kind. It’s like you—to think of everything,” he added, still in a dazed voice.
He began to pace the room with uneven steps.
“If the maid has gone, run up as quickly as you can to the Vicarage with this note,” said Anne, sealing the envelope, as Burks entered.
“She’s still here, ma’am.”
“Then give it to her, and tell her to go at once, please, Burks. It’s important. Don’t keep her a moment longer talking.”
The maid disappeared, and Anne lighted the candles on the mantelpiece, quietly, one by one.
“You need have no anxiety,” she said without looking at the Vicar. “Sylvia has been very imprudent, but she realizes it, and is sorry. She had arranged with me to come home and tell you all about it, as soon as I had first spoken to you. She seemed to think that I might have some—some little influence. But I must now leave her to tell her own story. I only want you to understand that she’s safe. I went to my solicitor about the matter, and as she is under age, he had no difficulty in settling the whole affair.”
“But—this man?” demanded Mr. Carfax in an unsteady voice. “The man Mrs. Lovell mentions?”
For the first time she glanced at him, and saw the fear in his eyes.
“Be quite easy. Sylvia had no idea of any evil intention on the man’s part. She is only utterly ignorant and inexperienced. She is one of the pure and innocent women you mentioned just now.”