Mrs. Lamb and the aunts pressed close to the window.

"No, we haven't," replied Mrs. Lamb. "Why, what's the matter?"

"We can't find her anywheres. Mother went over to Lawrence this
afternoon, and I was down in the east field hayin'. Mother, she got home
first, and Hannah Maria wasn't anywhere about the house, an' she'd kind
of an idea she'd gone over to the Bennets'; she'd been talkin' about
goin' there to get a tidy-pattern of the Bennet girl, so she waited till
I got home. I jest put the horse in again, an' drove over there, but
she's not been there. I don't know where she is. Mother's most crazy."

"Where is she?" they cried, all altogether.

"Sittin' out in the road, in the buggy."

Mrs. Lamb and the aunts hurried out. They and Mr. Green stood beside the
buggy, and Mrs. Green thrust her anxious face out.

"Oh, where do you suppose she is?" she groaned.

"Now, do keep calm, Mrs. Green," said Mrs. Lamb, in an agitated voice.
"We've got something to tell you. Mehitable was over there this
afternoon."

"Oh, she wasn't, was she?"

"Yes, she was. She went about four o'clock, and she stayed an hour and a
half. Hannah Maria was all right then. Now, I tell you what we'll do,
Mrs. Green: you just get right out of the buggy, and Mr. Green will
hitch the horse, and we'll go in and ask Mehitable just how she left
Hannah Maria. Don't you worry. You keep calm, and we'll find her."

Mrs. Green stepped tremblingly from the buggy. She could scarcely stand.
Mrs. Lamb took one arm and Aunt Susy the other. Mr. Green hitched the
horse, and they all went into the house, and up-stairs to Mehitable's
room. Mehitable was not asleep. She stared at them in a frightened way
as they all filed into the room. Mrs. Green rushed to the bed.

"Oh, Mehitable," she cried, "when did you last see my Hannah Maria?"

Mehitable looked at her and said nothing.

"Tell Mrs. Green when you last saw Hannah Maria," said Mrs. Lamb.

"I guess 'twas 'bout five o'clock," replied Mehitable, in a quavering
voice.

"She got home at half-past five," interposed Mehitable's mother.

"Did she look all right?" asked Mrs. Green.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Nobody came to the house when you were there, did there?" asked Mr.
Green.

"No, sir."

Aunt Susy came forward. "Now look here, Mehitable," said she. "Do you
know anything about what has become of Hannah Maria? Answer me, yes or
no."

Mehitable's eyes were like pale moons; her little face was as white as