GOING WITH THE TIDE As Nan, who had reluctantly complied with Kitty's stern decree that she must rest in bed during the greater part of the following day, at last descended from her room, she discovered, much to her satisfaction, that her ankle had ceased to pain her.

But she still felt somewhat stiff and sore after the knocking about of the previous day.
At dinner she was astonished to find that the house-party had decreased by one.

Ralph Fenton was absent.
"He left for town this morning, by the early train from St.Wennys Halt," explained Kitty.

"He was--was called away very suddenly," she added blandly, in answer to Nan's surprised enquiries.
A somewhat awkward pause ensued, then everybody rushed into conversation at once, so that Nan could only guess that some contretemps must have occurred between Penelope and the singer of which she was in ignorance.

As soon as dinner was at an end she manoeuvred Kitty into a corner and demanded an explanation.
"Why has Ralph gone away ?" she asked.