Part 31 (1/2)
”Isn't she here yet?” she asked, startled. ”She was coming back from Oldhampton by the afternoon train, and promised to meet me here.”
Miles looked at his watch.
”The attractions of Oldhampton have evidently proved too strong for her,” he said a little drily. ”If she had come by the afternoon train, she would have been here an hour ago.”
Sara looked troubled.
”Oh, but she _must_ be here--somewhere,” she insisted rather anxiously.
”Shall I see if I can find her for you?” suggested Trent stiffly.
Sara, sensing his wish to be gone and genuinely disturbed at Molly's non-appearance, acquiesced.
”I should be very glad if you would,” she answered. Then turning to Miles, she went on: ”I can't think where she can be. Somehow, Molly has become rather--difficult, lately.”
Herrick smiled.
”Don't look so distressed. It is only a little ebullition of _la jeunesse_.”
Sara turned to him swiftly.
”Then you've noticed it, too--that she is different?”
He nodded.
”Lookers-on see most of the game, you know. And I'm essentially a looker-on.” He bit back a quick sigh, and went on hastily: ”But I don't think you need worry about our Molly's vagaries. She's too sound _au fond_ to get into real mischief.”
”She wouldn't mean to,” conceded Sara. ”But she is----” She hesitated.
”Youthfully irresponsible,” suggested Miles. ”Let it go at that.”
Sara looked at him affectionately, reflecting that Trent's black cynicism made a striking foil to the serene and constant charity of Herrick's outlook.
”You always look for the best in people, Miles,” she said appreciatively.
”I have to. Don't you see, people are my whole world. I'm cut off from everything else. If I didn't look for the best in them, I should want to kill myself. And I'm pretty lucky,” he added, smiling humorously. ”I generally find what I'm looking for.”
At this moment Trent returned with the news that Molly was nowhere to be found. It was evident she had not come to Greenacres at all.
Sara rose, feeling oddly apprehensive.
”Then I think I shall go home and see if she has arrived there yet,”
she said. She smiled down at Miles. ”Even irresponsibility needs checking--if carried too far.”
CHAPTER XVI
THE FLIGHT
The first person Sara encountered on her return to Sunnyside was Jane Crab, unmistakably bursting to impart some news.