“Why wait till to-morrow? Why not send for him now?”
“Because he left here a quarter of an hour ago.
“Oh, you would not have far to send for him.”
“What do you mean?”
“Simply that he and Jane are in the shrubbery together at the present moment.”
The Squire stared at her helplessly for a moment or two. “How do you know that?” he said at last, speaking very quietly.
“Because my maid, who was returning from an errand, saw them walking there, arm in arm.” She paused, as if expecting her brother to say something, but he did not speak. “I have not had my eyes shut, I assure you,” she went on. “But in these matters women are always more quick-sighted than men. From the very first hour of my seeing them together I had my suspicions. All their walking and talking together couldn’t be for nothing. All their hand-shakings and sly glances into each other’s eyes couldn’t be without a meaning.”
The Squire got up from his chair and rang the bell. A servant came in. “Ascertain whether Mr. Bristow is anywhere about the house or grounds; and, if he is, tell him that I should like to see him before he goes.”
Mrs. McDermott rose in some alarm. It was no part of her policy to be seen there by Tom. “I am glad you have sent for him,” she said. “I hope matters have not gone too far to be stopped without difficulty.”
He looked up in a little surprise. “There will be no difficulty. Why should there be?” he said.