Stirrups, who had said, by way of explanation,—
"My master has had some bad news, sir, which takes him away unexpectedly."
It was all very strange,—stranger that Gladys did not come home; perhaps she had seen the news in the morning paper, and had gone to her cousin Amelia's house to pass the day, and avoid meeting Mrs. Fallow-Deer.
"Poor girl," cried that good lady at last, when the final words had been said a hundred times on the exciting topic, and a hundred surmises made by Mr. Gray Grosvenor, "I must really drive down to Amelia's and find her."
It was three o'clock, the luncheon had protracted itself until a very late hour, and Mrs. Fallow-Deer, excusing herself from her guests, rang for her carriage, and was just preparing to start in quest of "the poor deceived darling,"—when Charles Farwell's card was brought up to her.
