“Have you seen her?” asked Blanche.
“No,” said Arnold, in the most perfect good faith. “The way she has escaped by is not the way by the cross-roads—I answer for that.”
They separated to dress. When the party assembled again, in the library, before dinner, Blanche found her way, the moment he entered the room, to Sir Patrick’s side.
“News, uncle! I’m dying for news.”
“Good news, my dear—so far.”
“You have found Anne?”
“Not exactly that.”
“You have heard of her at Craig Fernie?”
“I have made some important discoveries at Craig Fernie, Blanche. Hush! here’s your step-mother. Wait till after dinner, and you may hear more than I can tell you now. There may be news from the station between this and then.”
The dinner was a wearisome ordeal to at least two other persons present besides B
