"I never thought of that either." "Still, I do not attach importance to this idea," she went on.

"I have some reason for thinking he has run away...

elsewhere; and if so, our first task must be to entice him back again." "What are your reasons ?" I asked, humbly.

Whatever they might be, I knew enough of Hilda Wade by this time to know that she had probably good grounds for accepting them.
"Oh, they may wait for the present," she answered.

"Other things are more pressing.