CHAPTER XXX.
Mr.Alwynn had returned from his eventful morning call at Vandon very grave and silent.

He shook his head when Ruth came to him in the study to ask what the result had been, and said Dare would tell her himself on his return from London, whither he had gone on business.
Ruth went back to the drawing-room.

She had not strength or energy to try to escape from Mrs.Alwynn.Indeed it was a relief not to be alone with her own thoughts, and to allow her exhausted mind to be towed along by Mrs.Alwynn's, the bent of whose mind resembled one of those mechanical toy animals which, when wound up, will run very fast in any direction, but if adroitly turned, will hurry equally fast the opposite way.

Ruth turned the toy at intervals, and the morning was dragged through, Mrs.Alwynn in the course of it exploring every realm--known to her--of human thought, now dipping into the future, and speculating on spring fashions, now commenting on the present, now dwelling fondly on the past, the gayly dressed, officer-adorned past of her youth.
There was a meal, and after that it was the afternoon.

Ruth supposed that some time there would be another meal, and then it would be evening, but it was no good thinking of what was so far away.