the inn herself, she had been compelled, in Sir Patrick's absence, to
commit the pursuit of Blanche to her own maid, in whose age and good
sense she could place every confidence. The woman seeing the state
of the weather--had thoughtfully brought a box with her, containing a
change of wearing apparel. In offering it to Blanche, she added, with
all due respect, that she had full powers from her mistress to go on,
if necessary, to the shooting-cottage, and to place the matter in Sir
Patrick's hands. This said, she left it to her young lady to decide
for herself, whether she would return to Windygates, under present
circumstances, or not.

Blanche took the box from the woman's hands, and joined Anne in the
bedroom, to dress herself for the drive home.

"I am going back to a good scolding," she said. "But a scolding is no
novelty in my experience of Lady Lundie. I'm not uneasy about that,
Anne--I'm uneasy about you. Can I be sure of one thing--do you stay here
for the present?"

The worst that could happen at the inn _had_ happened. Nothing was to be
gained now--and every thing might be lost--by leaving the place at which
Geoffrey had promised to write to her. Anne answered that she proposed
remaining at the inn for the present.

"You promise to write to me?"

"Yes."

"If there is any thing I can do for you--?"