ISS BLOW stood at the window of her bedroom in Jimmy O'Loughlin's hotel, and saw Mr. Dick and Mr. Sanders ride by on their bicycles. She did not for a moment suppose that they were the Members of Parliament who had arrived by the train. They looked like hilarious but shabby tourists. It is not with such faces or in such clothes that candidates for election woo their constituents in Merrie England. She afterwards saw the three ladies drive by, followed by the car which carried their luggage. She did not see Mr. Goddard. She supposed, very naturally, that he and the Members of Parliament were consulting together somewhere, perhaps in the waiting-room at the railway station, devising plans for the rescue of what still might remain of Dr. O'Grady's body. She waited patiently, sustained by the hope of heroic measures to be taken in the near future.
At half-past one Bridgy knocked at the door, and told her that her dinner was ready for her.
"Will Mr. Goddard be in for dinner?" asked Miss Blow.
Bridgy did not feel that it was her duty to disclose the fact that Mr. Goddard had driven away in the direction of Ballymoy. She answered cautiously.
"He might," she said.
This was unquestionably true. It was possible that Mr. Goddard would repent as he went on his way, and come back to dine with Miss Blow. It was not, in Bridgy's opinion, at all likely that he would; but she did not say this to Miss Blow.
"Will the other gentlemen be with him?"
"Well, I don't know, miss."
She did know, but she held charity to be a higher virtue than truth. If Miss Blow hoped for the company of other gentlemen, Bridgy would not subject her to a disappointment sooner than was absolutely necessary.
Miss Blow dined alone. After dinner she waited another half-hour. Then she rang, the bell for Bridgy.
"Has Mr. Goddard come back yet?"
"Well, I don't know, miss."
"Are the other gentlemen in the hotel?"
"Well, I don't know."
"Go and find out, then," said Miss Blow.
Bridgy went downstairs and summoned Jimmy O'Loughlin from behind the bar.
"The young lady above," she said, "is asking me this two hours if Mr. Goddard is come back."
"You know as well as I do," said Jimmy, "that he hasn't, and, what's more, won't."
"Sure, I do know that. Didn't I see him making off out of the yard by the back gate the way she wouldn't see him go?"
"Well, then, go and tell her so."
"Is it me? I dursn't."
"Do it at once," said Jimmy. "It was you she asked, and it's you that ought to answer her. Off with you now, and not another word out of your head."
Bridgy, who saw no reason why she should face the wrath of Miss Blow, retired to a small room which opened off the scullery, and spent an hour cleaning her own boots. Miss Blow waited, and after a while got tired of waiting. She rang the bell again. Bridgy heard it, and, for greater security, went into the yard and concealed herself in the cow byre. Miss Blow came downstairs and found Jimmy O'Loughlin. He had not thought of hiding, and was caught unawares.
"Is Mr. Goddard in the hotel?" she asked.
"He is not," said Jimmy. "It's himself was sorry to go; but there came a messenger over from Ballymoy, a police sergeant, to say he was wanting, and wanting badly. It might be cattle driving that's in it, or it might be a meeting about the land or maybe an eviction. They're a queer lot down in them parts. Anyway, he was wanting, and he went."
"It's a curious thing," said Miss Blow, "that he went off without saying a word to me."
"Well, now," said Jimmy, "if I amn't the fool this day; but I thought Bridgy would be sure to tell you."
"Tell me what?"
"The last words he said to me as he was getting up into the trap was these; 'Jimmy,' says he, 'it goes to my heart to be leaving Miss Blow behind me, and her in trouble. She'll never forgive me.' 'Believe you me,' says I, striving to encourage him, for I could see he felt it, 'she will.' 'She will not,' says he. 'Don't I know she won't?' 'She will,' says I. 'There isn't a young lady ever I met with a better heart.' 'Will you tell her,' says he, 'that it was forced on me or I wouldn't do it, not if you was to give me the full of my hat of golden sovereigns?' 'I'll tell her,' says I; 'I'll break it to her quiet and easy the way she won't be feeling it.' And, glory be to God, I have."
"You might have done it a little sooner," said Miss Blow.
"I might, and that's a fact," said Jimmy apologetically.
"Where are the other gentlemen?" said Miss Blow.