He took a slow turn or two from end to end of the room. Then he spoke again.
"Not long will she stay after I am gone. The thread of her life is frail--very frail. She will make haste to follow me."
A tap at the door was followed by the entrance of Marian. She paused with the open door in her hand.
"I am looking for mamma," said the girl. "I can't find her anywhere. And Wally, who ought to have been back long ago, has not yet returned. What can have become of them?"
"Shall I enlighten you? Yes? Well, then, at the present moment the pair of them may be found at the inn named Dun Cow, in the village of Overthwaite, a couple of miles away."
"But, good gracious, papa, whatever are they doing there?"
"Ah, that's a question you must not ask me, or, at any rate, one I must not answer. Perhaps I have divulged too much already. But shall I tell you what I should do in your place?"
"If you please, papa."
"I should ask Robert to drive me over in the pony chaise to the Dun Cow, and take the pair of them unawares. By so doing I fancy you will surprise them quite as much as they are plotting to surprise you."
"That will be very jolly."