But why do you come to me
with your trouble? Why don't you go to your father--your mother?"
"I have none."
"Ah--"
She had risen and pushed by him to the outer door, though he tried
to keep her. "Don't be rash," he urged. "I advise you to take time
to think of this--"
She did not answer; she seemed now only to wish to escape, as if in
terror of him.
She pulled open the door, and was gone.
Sewell went back to his tea, bewildered, confounded.
"What's the matter? Why didn't he come in to tea with you?" asked
his wife.
"Who?"
"Barker."
"What Barker?"
"David, what _is_ the matter?"
Sewell started from his daze, and glanced at his children: "I'll
tell you by and by, Lucy."
XXXIII
A month passed, and Sewell heard nothing of Lemuel. His charge,
always elusive and evanescent, had now completely vanished, and he
could find no trace of him. Mr. Corey suggested advertising.
Bellingham said, why not put it in the hands of a detective? He said
he had never helped work anything up with a detective; he rather
thought he should like to do it. Sewell thought of writing to
Barker's mother at Willoughby Pastures, but he postponed it; perhaps
it would alarm her if Barker were not there; Sewell had many other
cares and duties; Lemuel became more and more a good intention of
the indefinite future.
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