er across the table.

"I suppose they'll be back directly," Jan said uneasily. "I'll go and
ask Earley when Hugo took Tony."

"He got up to breakfast to-day for the first time," Meg remarked
irrelevantly.

Jan went out into the Wrens' garden and through Anthony's gate. She
fumbled at the catch, for her hands trembled.

Earley was picking peas.

"What time did Mr. Tancred take Master Tony?" she asked.

"Just as we got back from fetchin' the cream, miss. I should say as it
was about 'alf-past nine. He did meet us at the lodge, and took the
young gentleman with 'im for company--'e said so."

"Thank you, Earley," Jan said quietly.

Earley looked at her and over his broad, good-natured face there passed
a shade of misgiving. "I did tell Hannah to let you know the minute I
cum in, miss."

"Thank you," Jan said again; "that's quite right."

"Be you feelin' the 'eat, miss?" Earley asked anxiously. "I don't think
as you ought to be out without an 'at."

"No, I expect not. I'll go and get one."

By lunch time there was still no sign of Hugo and Tony; and Jan was
certainly as much scared as even Hugo could have wished.

Meg had been down to the village and discovered that Hugo and Tony had
gone by bus to the junction in time for the 10.23.

Peter was playing golf with Squire Walcote on a little course he had
made in some of his fields. It was impossible to go and hunt for Peter
without giving away the whole situation, and Jan was loth to do that.

She and Meg stared at one another in dismayed impotence.

Jan ordered the pony-carriage; she would drive to the junction, leaving
a note for Peter at "The Green Hart," but it was only too likely he
would lunch with the Walcotes.

"You must eat something," said Meg. "There's a train in at a quarter to
two; you'd better meet that before you go to the junction; the guard
might be able to tell you something."

At lunch little Fay wept because there was no Tony.

CHAPTER XXVI

IN WHICH SEVERAL PEOPLE SPEAK THEIR MINDS

"After all, you know," Meg said, with intent to comfort, "no great harm
can happen to Tony. Hugo will only take the child a little way off, to
see what he can get out of you."

"It's the moral harm to Tony that I mind," Jan answered sadly. "He was
getting so happy and trustful, so much more like other children. I know
his father has got him to go away by some ruse, and he will be miserable
and embittered because he has been cheated again."