Chapter 16

           Conniearrivedhometoanordealofcross-questioning.Cliffordhadbeenoutattea-time,hadcomeinjustbeforethestorm,andwherewasherladyship?Nobodyknew,onlyMrsBoltonsuggestedshehadgoneforawalkintothewood.Intothewood,insuchastorm!Cliffordforoncelethimselfgetintoastateofnervousfrenzy.Hestartedateveryflashoflightning,andblenchedateveryrollofthunder.Helookedattheicythunder-rainasifitdaretheendoftheworld.Hegotmoreandmoreworkedup.

           MrsBoltontriedtosoothehim.

           ’She’llbeshelteringinthehut,tillit’sover.Don’tworry,herLadyshipisallright.’

           ’Idon’tlikeherbeinginthewoodinastormlikethis!Idon’tlikeherbeinginthewoodatall!She’sbeengonenowmorethantwohours.Whendidshegoout?’

           ’Alittlewhilebeforeyoucamein.’

           ’Ididn’tseeherinthepark.Godknowswheresheisandwhathashappenedtoher.’

           ’Oh,nothing’shappenedtoher.You’llsee,she’llbehomedirectlyaftertherainstops.It’sjusttherainthat’skeepingher.’

           Butherladyshipdidnotcomehomedirectlytherainstopped.Infacttimewentby,thesuncameoutforhislastyellowglimpse,andtherestillwasnosignofher.Thesunwasset,itwasgrowingdark,andthefirstdinner-gonghadrung.

           ’It’snogood!’saidCliffordinafrenzy.’I’mgoingtosendoutFieldandBettstofindher.’

           ’Ohdon’tdothat!’criedMrsBolton.’They’llthinkthere’sasuicideorsomething.Ohdon’tstartalotoftalkgoing.Letmeslipovertothehutandseeifshe’snotthere.