They left the tree and went back to the Marshalls, and then down the
hill to Mrs Caffyn and Clara. Clara was much better for her rest,
and early in the evening the whole party returned to Letherhead,
Clara and Mrs Caffyn going on to Great Oakhurst. Madge kept close to
her sister till they separated, and the two men walked together. On
Whitmonday morning the Letherhead people came over to Great Oakhurst.
They had to go back to London in the afternoon, but Mrs Caffyn and
Clara were to stay till Tuesday, as they stood a better chance of
securing places by the coach on that day. Mrs Caffyn had as much to
show them as if the village had been the Tower of London. The wonder
of wonders, however, was a big house, where she was well known, and
its hot-houses. Madge wanted to speak to Clara, but it was difficult
to find a private opportunity. When they were in the garden,
however, she managed to take Clara unobserved down one of the twisted
paths, under pretence of admiring an ancient mulberry tree.
'Clara,' she said, 'I want a word with you. Baruch Cohen loves me.'
'Do you love him?'
'Yes.'
'Without a shadow of a doubt?'
'Without a shadow of a doubt.'
Clara put her arm round her sister, kissed her tenderly and said, -
'Then I am perfectly happy.'
'Did you suspect it?'
'I knew it.'
Mrs Caffyn called them; it was time to be moving, and soon afterwards
those who had to go to London that afternoon left for Letherhead.
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