Mr. Allardyce was not at home when I rode up to the door;
but I was taken to Mistress Allardyce, who astonished me beyond
measure by bursting into tears when she saw me.
"Good heavens, ma'am!" I cried, imagining all kinds of ill, "what
is amiss?"
"Oh, Mr. Bold," says the good lady, "I am so glad to see you. We
are in such trouble."
"Have the Cluddes got her?" I asked, Mistress Lucy being uppermost
in my thoughts.
"No, it is not so bad as that, though I fear that will be the end
of it. But she has left us, and I tremble to think of the poor
child so far away, and among strangers."
"Among strangers! Pray, ma'am, explain," I said, glad enough that
my first fear was unfounded, but marveling much at what had
happened.
"She left us six months ago," Mrs. Allardyce went on. "She has gone
back to Jamaica."
"To Jamaica!" I said. "What on earth induced her to do that,
ma'am?"
"'Twas that dreadful law case, Mr. Bold. The squire lost the day. I
do not understand it myself, he will explain it all to you when he
comes home: he has indeed gone to Bridgenorth this very day to see
his lawyer about it. Oh, Mr. Bold, I am so distressed! If I only
knew she was safe I could bear the separation so much better."
"I do not think you need be uneasy on that score," I said. "She has
friends in Jamaica, as you know; the people there are all very
kind; and you may be sure they will see to her happiness."
"I am so glad to hear that," said the lady.
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