Bell-boys carried surreptitious notes from room to room;
assurances, hopes, and reassurances passed one another in systematic
confusion. Love was trying to find its way out of the maze.
Immediately after luncheon Dauntless set out to discover his faithless
cousin. Eleanor kept close to her room, in readiness for instant
flight. The necessary Mr. Derby had his instructions to remain where
he could be found without trouble. Mrs. Van Truder, taking up
Eleanor's battles, busied herself and every one else in the impossible
task of locating the young woman's trunks, which, according to
uncertain reports, had gone mysteriously astray. Moreover, she had
prepared a telegram to the young lady's mother, assuring her that she
was quite safe; but Mr. Dauntless boldly intercepted Mr. Van Truder on
his way to the desk.
"Allow me," he remarked, deliberately taking the despatch from the old
gentleman. "I'll send it from the station. Don't bother about it, Mr.
Van Truder." He drove through the village, but did not stop at the
station; his instructions to the driver did not include a pause
anywhere. It is not necessary to relate what took place when he
descended upon the unfortunate Jim; it is sufficient to say that he
dragged him from his sick wife's bedside and berated him soundly for
his treachery.
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