They went up stairs to the drawing-room. Sheila was not there. Lavender rang the bell, and bade the servant tell her mistress she was wanted.
"Mrs. Lavender has gone out, sir," said the servant.
"Oh, indeed!" he said, taking the matter quite coolly. "When?"
"A quarter of an hour ago, sir. She went out with the—the young lady who came this morning."
"Very well. Let me know when luncheon is ready."
Lavender turned to his guests, feeling a little awkward, but appearing to treat the matter in a light and humorous way. He imagined that Sheila, resenting what he had said, had resolved to take Mairi away and find her lodgings elsewhere. Perhaps that might be done in time to let Sheila come back to receive his guests.
Sheila did not appear, however, and luncheon was announced.
"I suppose we may as well go down," said Lavender with a shrug of his shoulders. "It is impossible to say when she may come back. She is such a good-hearted creature that she would never think of herself or her own affairs in looking after this girl from Lewis."
They went down stairs and took their places at the table.
"For my part," said Mrs. Lorraine, "I think it is very unkind not to wait for poor Mrs. Lavender. She may come in dreadfully tired and hungry."