It was queerly worried out of Braintop, who was trying his best all the time to be obedient to Wilfrid’s direct eye, that the two wanderers by night had lost themselves in lanes, refreshed themselves with purloined apples from the tree at dawn, obtained a draught of morning milk, with a handful of damsons apiece, and that nothing would persuade Emilia to turn back from the route to London.  Braintop bit daintily at his toast, unwilling to proceed under the discouraging expression of Wilfrid’s face, and the meditative silence of two or three others.  The discovery was forcibly extracted that Emilia had no money;—­that all she had in her possession was sevenpence and a thimble; and that he, Braintop, had but a few shillings, which she would not accept.

“And what has become of her?” was asked.

Braintop stated that she had returned to London, and, blushing, confessed that he had given her his return ticket.

Georgiana here interposed to save him from the awful encomiums of Mrs. Chump, by desiring to know whether Emilia seemed unhappy or distressed.  Braintop’s spirited reply, “Not at all,” was corrected to:  “She did not cry;” and further modified:  “That is, she called out sharply when I whistled an opera tune.”

Lady Charlotte put a stop to the subject by rising pointedly.  Watch in hand, she questioned the ladies as to their occupations, and told them what time they had to dispose of.  Then Baynes, captain of the yacht, heard to be outside, was summoned in.  He pronounced doubtfully about the weather, but admitted that there was plenty of wind, and if the ladies did not mind it a little fresh, he was sure he did not.  Wind was favourable for the island head-quarters of the yacht.  “We’ll see who gets there first,” she said to Wilfrid, and the company learnt that Wilfrid was going to other head-quarters on special business, whereupon there followed chatter and exclamations.  Wilfrid quickly explained that his father’s condition called him away imperiously.  To Adela and Mrs. Chump, demanding peculiar personal explanations, he gave reassuring reasons separately, aside.  Mrs. Chump understood that this was merely his excuse to get away, that he might see her safe to Brookfield.  Adela only required a look and a gesture.  Merthyr and Georgiana likewise spoke expected adieux, as did Sir Twickenham, who parted company in his own little yawl.  Lady Charlotte, with her head over a map, and one hand arranging an eye-glass, hastily nodded them off, scarcely looking at them.  She allowed herself to be diverted from this study for an instant by the unbefitting noise made by Adela for the loss of her brother; not that she objected to the noise particularly (it was modulated and delicate in tone), but that she could not understand it.  Seeing Sir Twickenham, however, in a leave-taking attitude, she uttered an easy “Oh!” to herself, and diligently recommenced spying at ports and harbours, and following the walnut thumb of Baynes