"Both Commissions cancelled and not a word or hint reached us. The thing is preposterous."
"We still have the training of them, Edge."
"I trust it was not one of our girls to skimp her duties in such a disgraceful way."
"There's worse, there's what we left this morning," her colleague said, coming out with it.
"Now, Baker, if we had not been reasonably certain how that little mystery would clear itself up by luncheon," Miss Edge expostulated, again grimacing at the driver's back, "we could never have travelled all the way to London." At this moment she caught the driver's eye stolidly watching her make faces by the mirror that was aimed to catch the cloud of dust behind their rear window, but which reflected as faithfully the features of any passenger in Edge's seat.
"I can't help being nervous, dear," Miss Baker admitted.
"Evershed," Miss Edge said sharp. "Do pray watch where we are going."
When they drew up outside the house Edge found her mouth was dry. Accordingly she went straight to the sanctum, ordered two cups of tea over the telephone, and asked for Marchbanks to come along at once.
"Why ma'am," this lady said, after she had knocked and been told to enter, "there's no trouble, I hope." She stood before the Principals sipping tea behind their desks.
"Trouble, Marchbanks? That is what we are back here to find."
"But we weren't expecting you till after five."
"Which will have to be gone into when I have time," Edge said, then was so good as to relent. "The sittings were cancelled. Whether the fault that we were never told lies at this end is another matter. Now, have you any news?"
"Merode's found, ma'am. She's resting."
"Resting?" Edge cried out incredulously. "Is she hurt then?"
"Not exactly, ma'am."
"Marchbanks, there are no two ways about this incredible affair, is she hurt or isn't she?"
"She complains of her knee and she fainted," Marchbanks replied. She started to twist fingers together, when Baker interrupted, "Wouldn't that be one of my orphans?" she asked. When told it was so, she closed her eyes.
"Then the other cannot be far then," Edge continued, with greater confidence.
"There's no sign of Mary, ma'am."
"I dare say not, but mark well what I tell you. If the one is found it will not be long before the other puts in an appearance, as though nothing had occurred."
Miss Marchbanks breathed a sigh of released suspense.
"When did she faint, I wonder?" Edge enquired, almost gay, now, in the relief it had become to have learned that one at least was back.
"While I questioned her, ma'am."
"Ah," Miss Edge said, "ah," as though she suddenly noticed something dirty in the corner. Nevertheless she left well alone for a time. "And what does Dr Bodle say about her condition?"
"We haven't had the doctor in," Marchbanks explained, shifting her feet.
"You haven't had him in?" Miss Edge cried, and her voice rose. But Baker most definitely interrupted.
"I told you that child was an orphan," she said, eyes still closed.
The other waited for a moment to see if her colleague had more to say. When nothing came she proceeded, "Well, you must summon him at once, Marchbanks. And while you were about to question her too? We have our Directives, you know. And he should, perhaps, have been in the room with you all the time. How will it look if they hold an Enquiry?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Tell me, where is the child now?" Edge enquired.
"Oh, Matron's on guard, ma'am. She's locked safely in."
"That is one thing to be thankful for, then," Edge announced. "But who found her, Marchbanks, or did she just come on her own out of thin air?"
"Elizabeth Rock and Mr Birt I believe, ma'am."
Miss Edge glanced sideways at Baker. In that lady's sightless condition there was no way of telling how much she understood.
"Did you hear that, dear?" Miss Edge asked. "It may be significant."
"Can't say I see a great deal to it," Baker muttered, after a pause. Thus it came about that the doctor was not called. Miss March-banks was under the impression Miss Edge would do this, and that lady had believed she had only to give an order to be obeyed.
"And what about the Inspector of Police?" Edge went on.
"Of course I rang him at once, ma'am, but he seemed rather occupied. However he said he would be up in no time."
"Hasn't he made an appearance, then?"
"Not yet, ma'am."
"Well, perhaps that may turn out a good thing, although it strikes one as feckless of him, does it not?" Miss Edge turned to Baker. But her colleague had still not opened her eyes. Then she spoke.
"And Mary? She has a father and mother I'm certain," Miss Baker announced, getting to her feet to reach the file. To do so she had to look where she was going, and, when she stumbled, they realised she was in tears. Upon which Edge made a face at Marchbanks so much as to hint, pray take no notice.
"What did I tell you?" Baker asked. "Parents living apart and in Brazil," she read out from the card she held, openly wiping tears off her cheeks with the back of a hand.
There was a silence. After a moment Miss Edge arrived at the conclusion her friend's virtual collapse was best ignored.
"But, come to that, how was it?" she began again on Miss Marchbanks, who turned a horrified look round to her. "What induced them to act like little thieves? Is there a man in this, Marchbanks?"
"Why I'm sure there's nothing missing, ma'am. No-one's reported. ."
"Please," Edge interrupted, with a weary gesture. "I never said anything of the kind, did I? Who got at them, then, and planned it all? Have you found this out yet?"
"I was careful not to press too closely ma'am. . "
"And she fainted," Miss Edge again interrupted.
"She was very tired, I think," Ma Marchbanks said with dignity. A loud sob came from Baker.
"There is no need to lose our heads," Miss Edge rebuked her colleague, although she addressed the underling. "Rather it is a moment to keep what wits we have about us. As to being tired, the doctor will see to that, no doubt. The question I asked was quite simple. Is there a man in this, or not?"
Marchbanks had certainly begun to lose hers.
"Yes," she said, almost at random.
"I thought so," Edge said, satisfied almost to jubilation. "And has he any connection with our Mr Rock?"
"Careful dear," Baker implored, with a trembling voice.
"But we must know, you know we must," Edge said. "Well, has he?"
"I'm sure I can't tell. I don't imagine so," Miss Marchbanks told her, with obvious resentment.
"You can't tell, you do not imagine, what is this?" Edge echoed.
"That's how things are," Miss Marchbanks said, happily hating her Principal.
"But why? Surely you can see? Why, Marchbanks?"
"Because she fainted just when she was going to tell, ma'am."
"Where is the girl? I…" Edge was beginning, when Baker broke in.
"Thank you, Marchbanks, I'm sure you've done all that was possible, you can go now," she said, and Miss Marchbanks walked straight out. As she closed the door she heard Baker, pleadingly, start to reason with Miss Edge, "Now dear," she said, "now dear, in our Directives…"
"The OAFS," Miss Marchbanks spat aloud in the passage, to relieve her feelings, the first moment she was out of earshot."Oh, the oafs."
Moira came out of a ride into the small open space before Mr Rock's cottage. Its hideous mauve and yellow brick was swamped in shade, marked out by sunlight, for the beech trees were tall but not thick together hereabouts.
Sun lit up blue smoke, spiralling out of the chimney for two full yards in this stillness.
She could not see the old man but heard a chopping of wood within the trees, and moved towards the sound, knowing it must be him for he was the one to work round here.