He laughed a little impatiently.
‘Why, Margaret, have I grown such a methodical old fellow that you must imagine something has happened merely because I come home a couple of hours before dinner time? No, nothing has happened. I hurried home because I wanted to have a talk with Madeline. Where is she?’
‘Madeline is out.’
‘Out?’
‘Yes, she has been out all day.’
‘Why, where has she gone to?’
‘Really, James, I am not Madeline’s keeper. Since she didn’t choose to tell me I thought it was not my duty to ask. I only know that she went out walking all the morning, and that immediately after lunch she went out driving. I have not seen her since.’
‘Why, I thought when she went out she generally took the boy?’
‘She has always taken him before, but she did not want him to-day. She said it was necessary for her to go alone.’
Miss Forster concluded with a significant ‘Hem!’ which spoke volumes. Forster made no reply; he turned away, went to his study, and sat there to await his wife’s return.