d Mrs. Trapes reappeared; she was clad in a long flannel dressing
gown, and as she paused in the shadows by the door he could vaguely
define that she still held the precious watch to her ear.

"It do tick that musical," she said, "an' I can't sleep this night till
I've tried t' thank ye both for--for all your goodness to a lonely
woman. Ah, Mr. Geoffrey, I guess th' day as you came seekin' lodgin's at
my little flat was a good day for Ann Angelina Trapes--why, my land, Mr.
Geoffrey--ain't Hermy here?"

"No," answered Ravenslee a little bitterly. "Oh, no, I'm quite alone--as
usual, Mrs. Trapes."

"Why, now, that's queer!"

"How queer?"

"Because I've jest been into her bedroom, an' there's her things--except
that nightdress--but she--ain't!"

"Not there? She must be! Did you look in--her bed?"

"Lord, Mr. Geoffrey--her bed ain't been tetched!"

"Then where in the world is she?"

"Well," said Mrs. Trapes, consulting her watch again, "it is now exactly
fifteen and three-quarter minutes after midnight, so I guess she's in
bed somewhere. But this is a big house, an' there's lots of bedrooms, so
if I was you, I'd go an' look--till I found her--"

Ravenslee was at the door so swiftly that Mrs. Trapes started, and she
saw his eyes were very bright, and the hands he laid on her bony
shoulders were quivering.

"Mrs. Trapes," said he, "I will!"

Then he stooped, very suddenly, and kissed the thin, grey hair above her
grim eyebrow, and so--was gone.

"Find her?" mused Mrs. Trapes, glancing after him up the wide stairs.
"Why, yes, I guess he will sure find her--where she should have been
weeks ago. Lord, what a silly, beautiful, lovely thing love is!" and she
stood awhile smiling down into the fire, and her smile was very tender.

Then she sighed, switched off the lights, and went softly away.

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