‘Then you will wait for her by the firs? I’ll tell her at once.’
Picotee left him, and Sol went across the glade.
46. ENCKWORTH (continued)—THE ANGLEBURY HIGHWAY
He had not paced behind the firs more than ten minutes when Ethelberta appeared from the opposite side. At great inconvenience to herself, she had complied with his request.
Ethelberta was trembling. She took her brother’s hand, and said, ‘Is father, then, gone?’
‘Yes,’ said Sol. ‘I should have been gone likewise, but I thought you wanted to see me.’
‘Of course I did, and him too. Why did you come so mysteriously, and, I must say, unbecomingly? I am afraid I did wrong in not informing you of my intention.’
‘To yourself you may have. Father would have liked a word with you before—you did it.’
‘You both looked so forbidding that I did not like to stop the carriage when we passed you. I want to see him on an important matter—his leaving Mrs. Doncastle’s service at once. I am going to write and beg her to dispense with a notice, which I have no doubt she will do.’
‘He’s very much upset about you.’