"How long Undine takes to read that letter!" she said to herself, in some surprise.
Another ten minutes slipped away, but Miss Jessie was accustomed to waiting patiently—she had done little else for the past eight years.
"Susie must have kept the child for something," she decided, and settled comfortably back in her chair to await Undine's return.
But it was not like her sister-in-law to detain Undine without sending some explanation; neither was it like the girl to remain away so long. At the end of another ten minutes Miss Jessie began to be a little curious.
"What can be the matter?" she said uneasily, her thoughts reverting to a possible accident to her brother, who had gone to try some new horses that afternoon. "I think I'll wheel myself back to the house and find out."
But at that moment she caught sight of her sister-in-law coming towards her across the lawn. Mrs. Graham was looking cheerful and serene as usual, and carried some sewing in her hand.
"I thought I would come and join you," she said, as soon as she was within speaking distance. "It's much too lovely to stay in doors. Where's Undine?"
"I don't know," said Miss Jessie, "I thought she was with you. She went in half an hour ago, to read Marjorie's last letter, which I had forgotten to show her, and hasn't come back since."
"I haven't seen her," said Mrs. Graham, looking a little annoyed, "but then I have been in the kitchen with Juanita. Undine ought not to go off like this, and leave you alone so long."
"She never did such a thing before," said Miss Jessie, anxiously. "I wish you would go and see where she is, Susie."