Meanwhile, where was Miss Ercildoune? Surrey had thought her behavior
strange the last morning they spent together. How much stranger, how
unaccountable, indeed, would it have seemed to him, could he have seen
her through the afternoon following!

"What is wrong with you? are you ill, Francesca?" her aunt had inquired
as she came in, pulling off her hat with the air of one stifling, and
throwing herself into a chair.

"Ill! O no!"--with a quick laugh,--"what could have made you think so? I
am quite well, thank you; but I will go to my room for a little while
and rest. I think I am tired."

"Do, dear, for I want you to take a trip up the Hudson this afternoon. I
have to see some English people who are living at a little village a
score of miles out of town, and then I must go on to Albany before I
take you home. It will be pleasant at Tanglewood over the
Sabbath,--unless you have some engagements to keep you here?"

"O Aunt Alice, how glad I am! I was going home this afternoon without
you. I thought you would come when you were ready; but this will do just
as well,--anything to get out of town."

"Anything to get out of town? why, Francesca, is it so hateful to you?
'Going home! and this do almost as well!'--what does the child mean? is
she the least little bit mad? I'm afraid so. She evidently needs some
fresh country air, and rest from excitement. Go, dear, and take your
nap, and refresh yourself before five o'clock; that is the time we
leave."