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Jan arose from the seat. "If we sit idling here all afternoon," she remarked severely, "we shall never get that border weeded for Earley." The afternoon post came in at four, and when Jan went in there were several letters for her on the hall-table, spread out by Hannah in a neat row, one above the other. It was Saturday, and the Indian mail was in.
Before she joined Earley little Fay had been to the village with Meg to buy tape, and she had a great deal to say about this expedition. Meg saw that something was troubling Jan, and wondered if Mr. Ledgard had given her fresh news of Hugo. But Meg never asked questions or worried people. She chattered to the children, and immediately after tea carried them off for the usual washing of hands.
But the Tory table-talk of Earley was powerless to seduce this staunch partisan from his political allegiance; and, just at this period, he was meditating the most skilful and the most resounding blow which he ever struck for freedom and justice. It was a critical time.
"Please, miss, 'Annah says as 'is pa've took him with him down the village." Jan laid her sewing on the table and got up. "Is Earley in the garden?" "Yes, miss. I ast Earley an' 'e says the same as 'Annah. Mr. Tancred 'ave took Master Tony with 'im." Anne went away, and Jan and Meg, who had stopped her machining to listen, stared at each other across the table.
She invariably carried a camera on such occasions, and never by any chance used it to take any photographs; the programme was so unalterable that it had ceased to attract any attention among her companions. The omnibus conveyed the party to the ferry, from whence an hourly boat puffed several miles up the river to where the village of Earley stood on the opposite bank.
It was Lavender who at last succeeded in hitting the popular taste. "A picnic! A real whole-day one this time. Lunch in the woods at Earley, tea in our old woman's cottage, walk over the fields to the amphitheatre, and home by train from Oxholm. Whoever goes with Aunt Maria will be cheated of her holiday, for the well-behaved country doesn't count.
"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.
"It will not be worth your while writing to me here, as my plans are uncertain. I will try to give you notice of my arrival, but may reach you before my next letter. "Yours affectionately, Still as a statue sat Jan. From the garden came the cheerful chirruping of birds and constant, eager questioning of Earley by the children.
Earley took the pram with her for Earley to clean, and Meg and Miles walked on together. "I'm sorry you've had this upset," he said. "I've talked to William like a father." "It wasn't only William," Meg murmured. They were close to the house, and she stopped. "Good night, Captain Middleton. I must go and put my children to bed; we're late."
Hugo tipped the butcher and asked him to leave the suit-case at the station to be sent on as carted luggage to its address. Next morning he learned that Tony was to go with Earley to fetch extra cream from Mr. Burgess' farm. It was unfortunate that he couldn't get any of Tony's clothes without causing comment.
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