So satisfied was Wareham with his ample precautions that, supper ended,
he went in pursuit of Miss Dalrymple. She had vanished. Mrs Martyn
engaged him, and Mrs Ravenhill and Millie joined in; presently a harp
and voice struck up in the gallery round the hall. An hour later Anne
appeared at the door, wet, breathless, but in high spirits. She said
she had been paying tribute to the place, had gone down the Gudvangen
zigzags to see a waterfall--two waterfalls. A beautiful sleigh-dog
slipped in behind her.
"Anne!" exclaimed Mrs Martyn, disapprovingly. "In this rain!"
"Mountain-rain--mist."
"And alone!"
"Mayn't oneself be good company?"
She laughed as she said it. Wareham, looking at her, found delightful
charm in her laugh. He felt that in breaking away he was giving Hugh an
extraordinary proof of loyalty, and probably his face expressed this
conviction, for Mrs Martyn said sharply--
"Mr Wareham may admire imprudence--I don't!"