For the moment, the danger was over, and Esther's sick feelings subsided; but when the tea was brought in soon after and Sir Thomas stood up and said he could no longer be in the house without just looking into his own dear room, all excitement returned. He had left before anything had been said to prepare him for the change he had to find there; and a disturbed pause followed his disappearance. Edmund was the first to speak –
"Something has to be done," he said.
"It's time to think about our visitors," said Maria, who was still holding her hand on Henry Dorset's heart and didn't care about anything else. Where did you leave Miss Dorset, Esther?"
Esther told of her departure and delivered her message.
"Then poor Yates is all alone," Tom shouted. "I'm going to go and get him. He's not g
