When

fashion. If she's missing look for her. was she seen last?" "She was heard last talking to you in the hall-about nine o'clock."

"And havn't you seen her since? Oh, nonsense: she gave me the prescription, and I have been having it made up. Here's the medicine. Why don't you stir yourselves and look about? Do something, you fools! Dick, go and saddle the black mare. If she's really missing I must go for the police."

"Havn't you come on, Grey Randal, master Grant?" questioned the lad.

"No. saddle the mare."

"Mr. Grant," I said, "come into the parlour for a moment."

"There are no moments to be thrown away. I shall go for the police. There's not one of you knows how to set about a thing. Have you looked in the stables ?"

He was turning away. I put my hand on his arm. "Grant Wainwright, there is something I must say, a secret I must tell you."

Still I watched the expression of his mouth. "I can't stop!" he cried, making for the door. I held to his arm, and as he passed out said in a whisper, "Grant, save your cousin Helen. She cannot be yours, for she is married-married I tell you; but do not let that villain Witham get hold of her. Save her! Remember, she called upon you as a brother this night."

I had not seen Nanny Cargill follow us out, but she was now also clinging to him. "Oh, Grant, save her!" she cried. "The dear child could not help marrying when her grandfather desired it, for she loved Mr. Mainwaring. Oh, bring her back, Grant! Her heart will be broken. Think of the dear child !"

"Don't be a fool, Nanny. Am not I going now to find her and bring her back? I'll find her, never fear: and if she's married to Mr. Mainwaring, why he and I may talk that over afterwards."

I would have given much for light to have seen his face; but it seemed as if my senses were intensified, and his every tone appealed to my keenest instincts. He had pushed away

from us towards the stables.

"Could he, oh, could he, Nanny?" I said. She answered with a sob; then, as we entered, said, "You told him she's married, and he'll surely bring her back if he has carried her away; but where to, and how could he? He must have had hard walking to get to Marsham and back; he couldn't, indeed, have walked it; he must have run all the way."

دو

I repeated his words, "He and I may talk that over afterwards!"" And yesterday he said he should have shot himself if Mr. Mainwaring had taken her!

I sat down in the parlour for a moment, and buried my face in my hands; then I rose. There was silence but for the sobs of Nanny Cargill. The boy Wilson entered the hall with the stablelantern-he was crying too.

"Saddle another horse," I said-" the best

"Cannot you get a horse from the fields?" "There are the cart-horses, and the new brown horse that took me into the pond." He looked at me very earnestly, and then said, "Oh, ma'am, if you think Master Grant has carried away Miss Helen against her wiil I will go on that."

'My good boy, do not be afraid of speaking. What makes you think Mr. Grant may have done so ?"

"She would not have gone and left masterdying as he is, I'm sure she'd never have gone willing!"

"But how could he have taken her?"

"I don't know; but she's gone, and Nero never barked. Master Grant had Grey Randal standing saddled in the lane for an hour before he started for Marsham; and he came back on foot."

I thought anxiously for a moment. It might be hazarding the lad's life to send him as he had offered. I asked Will Harper if he thought he would go safe.

"He'd better go on old Darby, ma'am," he said. We may be long in catching the new horse, and Darby will come in a minute to me. He's slower, but he's surer, and he knows every inch of the road. He has been in the gig sometimes."

"Get him ready, then, while I write." Nanny found me materials, and I soon had this written :

"TO THE POLICE AT MARSHAM!

"Miss Dalziel has been forcibly carried away from Darliston Hall. Mr. Wainwright is thought to be dying, and she is his heiress. His nephew, Grant Wainwright, undertook before this to give you information. I suspect him strongly of having part in the abduction. Let him be closely watched and fol

lowed. The person calling himself Witham, and known to you, I also strongly suspect. Let neither leave the neighbourhood. Search the ruined huts near the Cleft Channel on the Marsh. Telegraph immediately to London for Mr. Arden Mainwaring. He is likely to be found at the Westminster Hotel."

While thus engaged-Nanny Cargill looking over my shoulder-we were startled by a scream proceeding from Mr. Wainwright's room, and, rushing to the staircase, heard Peggy cry—

"Oh, Nanny-Nanny Cargill-come here! Master's getting up. He's sitting bolt upright

in his bed!"

It was so. He seem'd to be feebly searching for something about the head of his bed; but when Nanny came, and, arranging his pillow, gently compelled his reclining again, he gave a sigh, and appeared to be contented.

I descended, and, finishing my note, wrote

another to much the same purport to be taken to Mr. Merton Brown. This done I began to think the horse was long in coming, when little Wilcox came into the hall.

"We shall do now, ma'am," he said; "didn't you hear the mare?"

"No; what mare?"
"Miss Helen's black mare.

We was in a precious fix, for none of the horses could we find in the ten-acre meadow, and Will Harper has gone to look if they're in the field beyond the aspens. I was coming to ask if I had not better run it, when I heard the mare whinnying. She was making straight for her stable." "Can Mr. Grant have sent her adrift?" "She's likely throwed him, ma'am." 'Well, go, my good lad; and don't let her throw you.'

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"I've rode her often lately; and she likes me better than Master Grant, because I'm a lighter weight, and I groom her. Might I have a lump or two of sugar? Miss Helen often gives her some, and she might take it kindly."

I half emptied the basin into his pocket, and went out myself to offer some to my poor Helen's favourite, while the lad mounted. She made no opposition to his doing so, and I augured from the start that matters would go well.

It was at least twenty minutes later when Will Harper returned, having caught and saddled Darby. I had, meanwhile, written a few lines to Alfred Merrivale, urging him to take what steps were possible to find where Witham was. I gave this in charge to Will Harper, telling him to call on the way at Mr. Barncliffe's cottage, order Lance to come to me, and his brother to give the information to Mr. Gray, and afterwards proceed with it to the nearest coastguard station.

CHAP. XLVI.

MRS. WELLWOOD'S PARTY. A SENSATION. THE DEBUTANTE GOES OFF UNUSUALLY EARLY.

Mrs. Wellwood's parties were always thought much of in the neighbourhood. She seldom invited more than twenty people; but this Thursday evening was looked upon as rather a special occasion; and her rooms were as full as, without inconvenience, they could be. Her husband's nephews had been visiting her for the previous ten days, and it was her desire that they should become acquainted with her friends before returning to Addiscombe.

A good deal of excitement had been felt by most of the young ladies who considered they held a place in Mrs. Wellwood's good gracesfor who could tell what might be the result of this commencement of mutual acquaintance?

Laura Ainslie had seen and pronounced upon them, already. "The youngest is a cub with a sulky temper," she had said; "and as for the other, he brought to my mind a saying of our

cooks, he looks as if butter would not melt in his mouth, but cheese would not choke him.' A good strong piece of old Gruyeres would not come amiss to him if nobody were by, I know."

So if the Ainslie girls did come out rather brilliantly on this occasion, it was not with any view to the captivation of either hopeful youth. Nevertheless, their mamma had her own special reasons for desiring they should look their best. Was not this Alice's first grand party? And, and-there was young Mr. Coalhurst would perhaps be leaving soon. Laura had certainly not behaved quite well to him. She had received his attentions, teased him a great deal, and then said to her papa, "I could not marry Mr. Coalhurst for all the world. He may be a very good fellow, but he don't suit me. He thinks too much of himself, and be's not so very bright: I shall go and take tea with uncle, as he is to be here this evening."

To which her father had replied: "Very well, my dear; just as you please about that; but I do not think you need avoid him, for your mamma is of opinion that though he certainly admires you, he is much more seriously inclined towards your sister Alice."

Laura was surprised, a little aggrieved, a little relieved. She was very fond of Alice-but to think of her, such a little thing as she was of her age, being married first-enough to make one feel quite old!

She talked it over with her uncle that evening. He said he thought her papa was right, and if Laura had really determined against accepting Mr. Coalhurst herself, she would do well to avoid standing in the way of his partiality for her sister.

"She's a dear little thing, is Allie," said Laura; "I shall never forget how kind she was when I was ill. I'm sure I would not stand in her way on any account."

"Neither would she in yours; and I have a great idea that her fondness for Darliston Hall of late has been from a perception of Mr. Coalhurst's wavering inclination. She will suit him a great deal better than you would, you minx."

Laura looked serious, and said she only wished she was sure he deserved to have such a dear darling as Alice was for his wife.

So now the evening of the party had come, and, Mr. Ainslie leaving his dressing-room in a white cravat, came upon Mrs. Ainslie hurrying out of hers. The lady was very well satisfied, when, on entering the drawing-room where the girls were assembled, her husband cried out "killing," and smiled approval.

"What a bevy of beauty, to be sure. Amelia, you belong to me, and Harriet, I suppose has the best intention to be harmless."

I

"Indeed, I'm not quite sure of that, papa. am purposing an attack on some gentleman, unknown. Look at this splendid bouquet; is'nt it a perfect beauty? Well, Alice brought it with her from Darliston Hall, and I am charged to find out who it is that so frequently sends these pretty things to Miss Dalziel. He must be coming to the party, we think, and doubtless

paled as with an half uttered ejaculation of distress he hurriedly strode towards the door. "Who is the messenger? where is he?" he asked.

There was a rising tumult of voices in the hall below, where stood young Dick Wilcox, pale with excitement and fatigue, the centre of a circle of liveried servants. His working coat on, buttoned awry, no waistcoat, and his stockingless legs peeping above his highlows, he presented a strange contrast to those around him. They fell back on seeing Mr. Brown approach, and the poor lad on seeing his face, cried, "Oh, it's Mr. Grant, sir; it's his work. Why were'nt you there to break every bone in his skin!" And Dick clenched his fists, and then fairly burst into loud crying.

The rumour spread through the house and reached Mrs. Wellwood and Mrs. Ainslie, who were conversing together on a sofa in the boudoir beyond the second drawing-room. "There's something said of Miss Dalziel of Darliston Hall having disappeared," a gentleman remarked in their hearing. A waltz had commenced, but the music soon sank and ceased, for the dancers fell off one couple after another to hear what report so interested the others.

Mrs. Wellwood, making her way to the hall, was met by Merton Brown. "Here is some terrible business at Darliston," he said, "Miss Dalziel has disappeared since nine o'clock, and it is feared has been carried away. Will you let me have something to take me there as quickly as possible?"

Mrs. Wellwood had no saddle horses, but she ordered a carriage to be directly made ready.

"The boy had better ride on the box," Mr. Brown said. "He is knocked up. Gunston, see the mare he rode is taken good care of; it is Miss Dalziel's."

"Why Brown, you take it very seriously," remarked a gentleman who had come up beside him. "I did not think you had any special interest in that quarter. And if the young lady has gone off with her cousin, I suppose it's an old attachment-"

He was interrupted by Dick Wilcox who almost shouted in his excitement. "Now don't go saying that. You know nothing about it, sir; no, you don't. Miss Helen, she'd never go off willing from Darliston when her grandfather lies in a fit-dying, maybe. And she never had nothing to say to him no more than she could help. And he said he would go and tell the police, and he did'nt, not he."

"Come into the library, gentlemen," Mrs. Wellwood said, "and do you come in too, poor lad."

She took him by the arm and placed him in an easy chair. Poor Dick had never seen so grand looking a lady in his life, nor so grand a chair.

"Now, Merton," she said, "the carriage cannot be ready for a few minutes: sit down and think."

He had been confused with the clatter of

tongues; stunned with the suddenness of the event. Now, reading my note a second time, he began more systematically to question Dick. While he was doing so Laura Ainslie came into the room followed by Mr. Devonshire.

"Mr. Brown," she said, "have we not reason to suspect Mr. Witham, the same person who has been lately at Captain Ashton's, of being a very desperate character ?"

"Yes," he promptly answered, "and Mrs. Gainsborough suspects strongly as I do that he has a hand in this business."

"What on earth could he have to do with it?" questioned another gentleman, who had entered after Mr. Devonshire: this was Mr. Boradaile.

"He knows she is an heiress, and wants her himself; that is what I think," said Merton. "Oh, impossible !" cried Mr. Boradaile, "I'm quite sure you're wrong.'

"My dear fellow," said Mr. Devonshire, "how should a man who wants a lady himself assist another lover to run away with her? Besides, I happen to know that Witham was playing piquet at Captain Ashton's at nine o'clock, for I was there myself and won a sovereign from him."

"Mr. Devonshire, I suspect this same Witham to be altogether a villain. I know he is in part, and I sent him word by Grant Wainwright some days ago that he was no fit company for gentlemen. I meant to warn the headstrong fool Wainwright-and I suspect he will find he is a fool. Witham, I believe quite capable of playing his own game under pretence of serving a friend."

"Oh, Mr. Devonshire, do speak!" cried Laura.

"Why the fact is, Miss Laura thinks there is some connection in the affair, but-I am afraid I am very stupid-I don't see it. Mr. Witham has undertaken charge of the Olive."

Mr. Brown looked for a moment perplexed; the next, he said, "The yacht in the bay?"

Yes, my brother's steam yacht. Tom is in France, and wished me to send her over to Kingstown to a friend: Witham manages her first-rate, and so I said I should be much obliged to him. I did really think it was very good-natured of him to offer."

"Has he gone?"

"Not this tide-I think not-he was to be away in the morning. If you are in earnest in saying the man is not fit company for gentlemen, I will go and put a stop to his departure. I don't want to get into a scrape with Tom. But don't fancy Miss Dalziel is on board-the thing is impossible. The crew are on the vessel; know every man of them, and can answer for their being honest fellows."

"I do give you my assurance that Witham has proved himself a liar and an imposter in more than one instance; and I am of course prepared to maintain my assertion. Do as you have said, I pray, without loss of time-though I think the police may have been before you in arresting his departure."