Claudia from where she stood could see through the open door of the library where Gilbert usually sat in one of the big chairs. But the room was empty.
“Gilbert—where is he?”
“He’s gone too. He promised to look after John and keep him calm.”
“What! You ought not to have let him go. When did they start?”
“About four o’clock. I wanted them to wait for tea, but they wouldn’t. It takes three-quarters of an hour to drive over. I don’t know what the world is coming to. I’ve always sent them a lot of things for their rummage sale, and last winter the blankets that I sent would——”
“Gilbert ought not to have gone. Why didn’t you stop him? You know what Dr. Neeburg said. He isn’t fit to go into a scene of excitement like that. He is just as furious about the whole thing as his father. He is not strong yet. How could you let him go?”
“He says he feels quite well now,” stammered Lady Currey, not liking the look in her daughter-in-law’s eye. “I told him he wasn’t to try and address the men.”
“I should think not.”
“They ought to be back soon,” concluded Lady Currey. “Oh, dear! I feel so faint and queer.”
Claudia thought the situation over rapidly, but there was nothing she could do. It would be no good going over to Langton. Probably they would be returning by now. If only Gilbert would believe other people occasionally! Neeburg, when he had come down and given Gilbert permission to go back to town, had told him emphatically that he would still have to take things very quietly for another year or two. And he had gone with his father to face an infuriated rabble of strikers!