"May I? I think he ought to come." The hot color was burning on his cheeks. What right had he to betray the secret which he believed he had discovered? And yet could he stand by and not speak for her when she had so little time in which to speak for herself?
"Is it for his sake," said Mrs. Middleton, "or is it that you think—? Well, let it be so: send for Percival. Yes," she added, "perhaps I have misunderstood. Yes, send at once for Percival."
"I'll go," said Harry, hurrying down the passage. "The message shall be sent off at once. I'll take it to Fordborough."
"Must you go yourself?" Mrs. Middleton raised her voice a little as he moved away.
"No: let me go," said Captain Fothergill, turning the farther corner: "I am going to Fordborough. What is it? I will take it. Mrs. Middleton, you will let me be your messenger?"
"You are very good," she said.—"Harry, you will write—I can't. Oh, I must go back." And she vanished, leaving the two men face to face.
"I've no telegraph-forms," said Harry after a pause. "If you would take the paper to my father, he will send the messages."
Fothergill nodded silently, and went out to make ready for his journey. Hardwicke followed him, and stood in the porch pencilling on the back of an old letter. When Fothergill had given his orders he walked up to Carroll, touched the lad's shoulder with the tips of his fingers, and stood away. "Come," he said.
Archie raised himself from the ground and stumbled to his feet: "Come? where?"
"To Fordborough."