XII
For the three or four days that followed his departure, Bernard saw nothing of the ladies who had been committed to his charge. They chose to remain in seclusion, and he was at liberty to interpret this fact as an expression of regret at the loss of Gordon's good offices. He knew other people at Baden, and he went to see them, and endeavoured, by cultivating their society, to await in patience the reappearance of Mrs. Vivian and her companions. But on the fourth day he became conscious that other people were much less interesting than the trio of American ladies who had lodgings above the confectioner's, and he made bold to go and knock at their door. He had been asked to take care of them, and this function presupposed contact. He had met Captain Lovelock the day before, wandering about with a rather crestfallen aspect, and the young Englishman had questioned him eagerly as to the whereabouts of Mrs. Vivian.
"Gad, I believe they've left the place—left the place without giving a fellow warning!" cried Lovelock.
"Oh no, I think they are here still," said Bernard. "My friend Wright has gone away for a week or two, but I suspect the ladies are simply staying at home."
"Gad, I was afraid your friend Wright had taken
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