But in spite of the gruelling questions, the pleas and the threats, we could get nothing more from them than that they had met Carl in the woods, he had asked the way and they had talked; he had seen them again. Once they had ridden off to meet him because they were making arrangements for the elopement. I remembered that occasion well and how scared Miss Barston had been.
Jason said: "Someone must have seen them leave. I'll get down to the station. If we can fend out where they went it might give us a clue to start with."
He went off.
There was little concentration on lessons that day. Everyone was talking about Fiona's elopement. It was clear that the girls were very excited. They thought it was the most romantic thing that had ever happened at Colby Abbey Academy for Young Ladies.
I could not rest: I had half forgotten the letter in all the turmoil of Fiona's flight, but every now and then memory of it came back to sicken me. The entire picture seemed to have changed. I looked back at the peace of last term and could not believe so much disaster could have come about during such a short time.
Something occurred to me and I went in search of Eugenie. As it was the half hour after the midday meal and lessons did not start until two I guessed that she would be out of doors. I found her with Charlotte at the fish ponds.
"Eugenie," I said. "I want a word with you." "With me?" she said insolently.
"Perhaps both of you can help me."
There was something in the manner of both girls which I found offensive. They had never forgiven me for separating them when I arrived. It had seemed like a victory for me then but I always felt uneasy with those two girls and when I considered how they had connived and probably schemed with Fiona and her lover, they worried me a good deal.
I said: "I have been thinking about the pageant. Do you remember Miss Barston lost one of the costumes?"
"Yes," said Charlotte with a laugh.
"Perhaps you will tell me why you find it so amusing?"
They were both silent.
"Come on," I said. "Lessons will be starting soon. Do you know anything about that costume?"
Eugenie looked at Charlotte who said defiantly: "Fiona took it."
"I see, and during the performance someone wore it. Could it by any chance have been the romantic Carl?"
They tittered.
"This is a very dangerous matter," I said severely. "Did Carl wear the costume?"
They still stood there suppressing their mirth. "Did he?" I thundered.
"Yes, Miss Grant," said Charlotte.
"And he had the temerity to appear with the monks?"
"He had to see Fiona. He had to tell her about the arrangements."
"I see. And you were in the secret?"
They were silent again. I was thinking of that moment when I had almost caught Fiona and her lover. If only I had. If I could have unmasked this man I might have stopped this disastrous elopement.
"You have been very foolish," I said.
"Why?" demanded Eugenie. "Love is good and Fiona is happy."
"Fiona is very young."
"She is eighteen. Why should love be right for some and not for others?"
There was a direct challenge in their eyes.
"I said this is a dangerous matter. Go back to your classes now."
They ran across the grass and I followed.
Jason called at the school that evening.
Miss Hetherington invited the mistresses to her study to hear what he had to say.
He had discovered that two people had arrived at the station before the vine o'clock train for Exeter was about to depart. The man was a stranger and the station master did not recognize his companion. She was wearing a cloak which covered her head completely. There were two other passengers .. . both men. That was all he could remember.
"They could have gone to Exeter ... or London ... anywhere," said Jason. "It seems as though we are not going to get on their trail."
There was gloom in the study. I think most of us conceded that Fiona had successfully escaped.
Jason went to Exeter next day. I believe he made extensive enquiries but he was of course working in the dark.
We tried to settle down to a normal existence but it wasn't easy. I had never seen Daisy so depressed. She was terribly concerned about what effect it would have on the school.
"In a way," she said, "it is a blessing that she is who she is. Sir Jason knows exactly how it happened and it was after all from the Hall that she escaped. He doesn't blame us for negligence. All the same, girls talk, and I don't know what parents' reactions will be to an elopement at the school."
Four days after the elopement, Eugenie had a postcard from Fiona. There was a picture of Trafalgar Square and a London postmark.
"I'm having a wonderful time and am very happy. Fiona."
The postcard was seized on, examined and Sir Jason was invited to come over. But in fact it gave us no information except that Fiona was happy and in London.
"And that," said Eileen, "is like looking for a particularly elusive needle in a rather more than usually large haystack. It's no use trying to find her. She's gone off. She may be married. I expect she will be as she has a nice fortune. Maybe that's the crux of the whole matter. Though Fiona is a charming child .. . quite the most pleasant of that unholy trinity which comprises her sister and the odious Charlotte. I'm sorry it wasn't Eugenie or Charlotte who went off."
That was an indication of the way people were thinking. They were getting tired of the subject of Fiona's departure. It was evident that she had gone and would not come back to school. "Let it rest there," said Eileen. "After all I doubt she is the first schoolgirl to elope. I think there was quite a crop of them last century ... always heiresses, which I believe contributed to the main purpose of the exercise. So this runs to form."
When I went into the post office I found Mrs. Baddicombe round-eyed with curiosity.
"My word," she said, "we do see life. What do you think of that young lady running off like that! Well, what's the world coming to? They say he was such a handsome gentleman. Swept off her feet. Well, you know what young girls are. No stopping 'em. I reckon there was a bit of a to-do at the school and at the Hall."
It seemed that the excitement aroused by Fiona's elopement had superseded that of Mrs. Martindale's disappearance.
I registered a parcel to Aunt Patty. There was no need to. It was some artificial flowers which I had happened to see in Colby and I thought she would find them suitable for trimming a hat. She would be surprised that I registered them but I could explain to her when I saw her.
"Would you please write the receipt in block letters please?"
"Block letters!" cried Mrs. Baddicombe. "What's them?''
"Like printing."
"Well, I never did before. I always write out my receipts natural like."
"It would be easier to read."
She looked at me suspiciously, and rather laboriously complied with my request. She handed me the receipt and said: "I wonder if we'll have any news. She's got spirit. I will say that for her. Always thought she was a quiet one. But then, as I say to Baddicombe, you never do know and it's the quiet ones who turn out to be deep."
She gave me a knowing wink.
I said good day and came out of the post office clutching my receipt. I could not see any resemblance to the printing on the enveloppe I had received.
The term went on uneasily. The hot weather had broken and it was raining most of the time. At Assembly, Miss Hetherington had spoken to the girls and told them that they were on no account to hold any conversation whatsoever with people whom they did not know; and if anyone spoke to them they were to report immediately either to her or to one of the mistresses.