He found her in her own room.  “Where on earth have you been?” she exclaimed.  “I have been looking everywhere for you.”

In as few words as possible he told her where he had been, and what he had done.

“And where are you going now?” she asked.

“I am going to change my coat,” said the good Mr. Tom.  “After my ride to the toll-gate and back this jacket is too dusty for me to drive with her.”

“Drive with her” exclaimed Mrs. Easterfield.  “It will be very well for you to get rid of some of that dust, but when the carriage comes I will drive with Olive to see her uncle.”

And thus it happened that Mr. Tom stayed at home with the house party while the close carriage, containing his wife and that dear girl, Olive Asher, rolled swiftly southward over the smooth turnpike road.

CHAPTER XXVI

A Stop at the Toll-gate.

The four lovers at Broadstone walked, and wandered, and waited, after breakfast that morning, but only one of them knew definitely what he was waiting for, and that was Mr. Locker.  He was waiting for half-past twelve o’clock, when he would join Miss Asher, if she gave him an opportunity; and he was sure she would give him one, for she was always to be trusted.  He intended this interview to be decisive.  It would not do for him to wait any longer; yes or no must be her word.  She had been walking down by the river with the best clothes on the premises, and he now feared the owner of those clothes more than anybody else.  He was a keen-sighted young man, for otherwise how could he have been a poet, and he assured himself that Miss Asher was taking Hemphill seriously.

So Mr. Locker determined to charge the works of the enemy that day before luncheon.  When the conflict was over his flag might float high and free or it might lie trampled in the dust, but the battle should be fought, and no quarter would be asked or given.

As for Mr. Hemphill and Mr. Du Brant, they simply wandered, and waited, and bored the rest of the company.  They did not care to do anything, for that might embarrass them in case Miss Asher appeared and wished to do something else; they did not want to stay in the house because she might show herself somewhere out of doors; they did not want to stay on the grounds because at any moment she might seat herself in the library with a book; above all things, they wanted to keep away from each other; and their indeterminate peregrinations made sick the souls of Mr. and Mrs. Fox.

The diplomat did not know what he was going to do when he saw Miss Asher alone; everything would depend upon surrounding circumstances, for he was quick as well as wary, and could make up his mind on the instant.  But good Rupert Hemphill had not even as much decision of purpose as this.  He had already spent half an hour with the lady of his love, and he had not been very happy.  Delighted that she had permitted him to join her, he had at once begun to speak of the one great object which dominated his existence, but she had earnestly entreated him not to do so.