CHAPTER XXX. "Oh! cast thou not affection from thee Hold to thine heart, that only treasure part; The bright gem's purity."-MRS. HEMANS. THERE was no Captain Forest at dinner. 1 It was presumed Lady Maria loved him dearly, for she could eat nothing, and looked twenty years older. "Don't weep, my dear madam, I'll have him cried, or I'll get the inspector of police to look him up, or I'll go to the Cider Cellars. As he is for once on the loose, he may have gone there to amuse himself." Lady Maria disdained any reply. But the next morning she gave in a little. "I went, as I told you I would, dear madam, to every possible place I could think of," answered Glynne, to her appeal. "I spent nearly the whole night visiting one odd place after another, sadly compromising my character by so doing. I personally inspected all the lock-ups, and turned over a score of drunken men with my own hands, to catch a glimpse of the beloved face. All of no avail. You know him better than I do; he is not a sort of person now to take to cold water, do you think, under a pressure of painful circumstances ?" "What can you mean, man?" exclaimed Lady Maria, aghast. "Or suppose he has bolted to America? We must telegraph. Or to his relations? Has he any?" "His mother," murmured Lady Maria, with a sigh of relief. "Then perhaps you will go down to Erith and see for yourself?" 66 Certainly not; if Captain Forest does not know what is due to his wife, she will be the last person to teach him." "I am ignorant of the amount of etiquette that ought to exist between husband and wife on such occasions, but as I plead guilty to a slight degree of attachment towards my papa-inlaw, I think I will go for my own satisfaction to Erith." In the course of the day, according to Glynne's arrangement, Mr. Graham arrived. Though he looked radiantly happy, Selina had reason to compliment herself on the amount of his attachment. He was no longer too robust and healthy, but very much the contrary. To my mind, I never saw anything so pretty as Selina, for as she said herself, "There is no disgrace in this attachment." But, spite of their happiness, and mine to see theirs, we were devoured by anxiety. Four days had elapsed since my guardian's disappearance, and nothing had been heard of him, or of Glynne either, since he had left to go to Erith. All Lady Maria's pride and haughtiness vanished; and we pitied her to the bottom of our hearts. She was like one distracted-going to Erith in the day-time, where she had heard her husband had never been, though Glynne had, and only coming from there to go back again; while she had gangs of men employed, dragging rivers and ponds, and every possible place she could think of. She implored Mr. Graham, as if he had been the dearest friend of her whole life, instead of one of whose existence she had only just heard, to seek every hole and corner of London; she hung upon Selina for consolation and hope, with kisses and tender words, almost revealing, in the depths of her remorse, the secret by which she had allured Captain Forest from her, while she was equally affectionate and kind to me. At last she was exhausted, and lay slumbering uneasily on the sofa, with Selina and I watch ing her, about eight o'clock, on the fifth evening, when a thundering knock at the front door shook the whole house. She rose instantly, trying, exhausted as she was, to put on an air of offended dignity. Only Glynne appeared. She could not frame words to ask for her husband, though all doubts as to his safety were dispersed, as we looked at Glynne's face. He was in his merriest mood, his eyes not twinkling, but blazing with mischief. 'Well, he is all right," said he, at last. "And where is he?" Oh, quite safe, and very jolly, which is more than I should be in his circumstances. blowing a gale.' "When will he come ?" It's "He desired his love, and you may expect him again in three years; perhaps two and a half." "You are mad, Neville." "Not at all; I assure you those were his last |