'I should not be a scrap surprised,' I answered, dismally. 'Then I shall sleep at Ascot House to-night.'
'Mind you write,' she exclaimed, 'and tell me everything that horrid Augustus says, and all about things.'
A little later, as the clock struck half-past four, Mrs. Westlake entered the room.
'I think Mr. Westlake must have missed the train which he expected to catch,' she said. 'The next will not bring him home until about half-past six.'
'We were wondering whether Father would bring Mr. Turton with him!' cried Jacintha.
Mrs. Westlake came to my side, resting a hand on my shoulder. 'You know,' she said, gently, 'that at the very worst you will only stay at Castlemore until we hear from Mrs. Ruston.'
But, for some reason, I placed very little confidence in Aunt Marion, who, I felt certain, had entirely washed her hands of me before her marriage. Presently Jacintha suggested that we should go to another room where there was a chess-table, but it was impossible to fix my thoughts on the game, and she checkmated me twice in ten minutes.
'It's no good,' I exclaimed. 'I can't think of anything but Mr. Turton.'
When the clock on the mantelpiece struck six, I rose from my chair and began to fidget about the room, looking every few minutes to see how the time was passing.
'I think I heard a cab or something stop at the door!' cried Jacintha presently.