Megan did not even know he had gone until late afternoon, when Jane came to the nursery, where Megan was halfheartedly trying to impress the first few letters of the alphabet upon her charge. Though she saw at once by Jane's face that something had happened, she was given no opportunity to ask; Lina rushed at Aunt Jane and proudly displayed a row of staggering A's and tipsy-looking B's. "You appear to have worked very hard," Jane said seriously. "You deserve a treat. Would you like to have supper with Lizzie in her room?" Lina clapped her hands. Lizzie told wonderful stories about brownies and elves and the People of the Hills, and when Jane was not around to supervise, she stuffed her pet with sweetmeats. "I thought we might dine together," Jane said, turning to Megan. "Edmund is away—" "Away!" The cry broke from her before she could stop herself. "To Astley Park for a few days." Jane spoke quickly, as if bent on getting the worst over with. So she knows, Megan thought, observing Jane's tactfully averted eyes.
