Eugene went, but found, to his dismay, that Claudia was not there.

Some mystery hung over her non-appearance; but he learned from Bob that her departure had been quite impromptu,--decided upon, in fact, after his telegram was received,--and that she was staying some five miles off, at the Dower House, with her aunt, Lady Julia, who occupied that residence.
Eugene was much annoyed and rather uneasy.
"It looks as if she didn't want to see me," he said to Bob.
"It does, almost," replied Bob cheerfully.

"Perhaps she don't." "Well, I'll go over and call to-morrow." "You can if you like.

_I_ should let her alone." Very likely Bob's words were the words of wisdom, but when did a lover--even a tolerably cool-headed lover like Eugene--ever listen to the words of wisdom?
He went to bed in a bad temper.

Then in the morning came Stafford's letter, and of course Eugene had no kind of doubt as to the meaning of it.