Sprig Muslin V

Hildebrand visits the old gentleman who takes in the quality papers. He gets a bundle of them to take back to Amanda, but he discovers that old Mr. Vinehall knows Gary. He was a friend of his father's. He is very fat and in poor health and does not often go out, but to Gary's surprise a few days later, he turns up at the inn. He has thought that Beatrix was there, nursing her brother but finds Hester there instead. Of course, she is not Beatrix, but she cannot think of any explanation. She rushes out, and Amanda comes to her rescue, by telling the old man that Hester is Gary's OTHER sister, born out of wedlock and that she is embarrassed. Amanda further explains that Hildebrand is rather deaf, so he mistakenly gave the impression that it was Beatrix who was there. Hester has hidden in Gary's room while Vinehall visits and afterwards, tells Gary that while Amanda tells outrageous fibs, she is quick witted and never at a loss. She thinks that Amanda should be allowed to marry her Neil. Gary, amazed at Hester's growth as a person, tells her that he never knew her until they left Brancaster Park. Shortly after this, the happy little party suffers from intrusion from the outside world. Neil, who is convalescing in London, meets Warren Wetherby, Gary's brother in law, who invites him to dinner. Warren knew Neil's father, and he has not seen the young man for years. He knows that his wife will always be pleased to welcome a soldier from the Peninsula, because of her brother having lost his life there. Gary's groom comes to the Wetherby house, and tells Beatrix about his master's odd behaviour. So Neil, dining there, learns that Gary Ludlow has apparently gone off with a girl called Amanda, and has not been seen for a week or 2. Neil is horrified. He visits General Summercourt, Amanda's old grandfather. Summercourt tells him that Amanda has run away from home.. and he advises him that he knows who Amanda is with. They trace Gary and Amanda's travels and come to the inn. Meanwhile Hester's family find out that she is not with her sister Susan and they too trace her from when she left the family home.