“Well—there is Blanche in the breakfast-room telling Lady Lundie that the bridal tour happens, through an unexpected accident, to have come to an end. Do you think Lady Lundie is the sort of person to take the statement for granted? Nothing of the sort! Lady Lundie, like the bee, will insist on investigating for herself. How it will end, if she discovers the truth—and what new complications she may not introduce into a matter which, Heaven knows, is complicated enough already—I leave you to imagine. My poor powers of prevision are not equal to it.”
Before Arnold could answer, Blanche joined them from the breakfast-room.
“I’ve done it,” she said. “It was an awkward letter to write—and it’s a comfort to have it over.”
“You have done it, my dear,” remarked Sir Patrick, quietly. “And it may be a comfort. But it’s not over.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think, Blanche, we shall hear from your step-mother by return of post.”
CHAPTER THE THIRTY-EIGHTH.
THE NEWS FROM GLASGOW.
THE letters to Lady Lundie and to Mr. Crum having been dispatched on Monday, the return of the post might be looked for on Wednesday afternoon at Ham Farm.