However, it was Bess who sought Nan out, and that before Grace had barely had time to finish divulging her bit of news.
"What did I tell you?" Bess greeted Nan as soon as she could find her.
"I mean that talk we had some time ago up in your room."
"What talk?" Nan pretended to have forgotten.
"You know as well as I," Bess responded impatiently. "I mean that talk about Walker and Alice. It was nice, but it's all over now."
"I mean that Walker talked to your cousin sometime yesterday, that your cousin was simply furious, and that Walker Jamieson has left, never to return!"
"Oh, Bess, don't get romantic about it," Nan said abruptly. "Now get your breath and tell me actually what you know."
"I have," Bess insisted. "Walker wanted to marry Alice and Adair MacKenzie said 'no!' Walker left without saying goodby to anyone and nobody knows when he is going to return if at all. Alice has gone to her room, and everybody in the house is all broken up, except the old housekeeper. All she does is shake her head and say 'You just wait. This will all be all right in the end. Young people are too hasty.'
"Imagine that!" Bess ran on indignantly. "She says young people are too hasty, when all the trouble here is caused by Mr. MacKenzie and he certainly isn't young!"
"Elizabeth Harley, you be careful!" Nan warned her friend. "You don't know for sure whether what you are saying is true or not. You'll have everybody in trouble if you don't watch out."
"But Nan, I could just cry," Bess protested. "He is such a nice person and so is she. And now it's all spoiled."
"Hush, Bess," Nan spoke more softly now. Then she looked over at Walter as though begging him to leave them for a few moments which he did.
"Now, see here," she spoke sternly to Bess when he disappeared. "If there is anything at all in what you say, and I doubt it, there is nothing in the world to be gained by crying and talking and interfering."
"I'm not interfering!" Bess was indignant.
"Well, then talking about it," Nan corrected herself. "We can't do anything about it except sit around and wait. I don't believe that Walker has gone away for the reason you say he has at all, and if he has, he'll be back."
"Well, if he hasn't gone away for that reason, why has he gone at all?" Bess demanded.