lock, and she thought that an accident
might possibly have happened to him. Still Rufus was a strong, manly
boy, well able to take care of himself, and this was not probable.

When ten o'clock came, and he had not yet made his appearance, she went
downstairs. The door of the hall bedroom, which Rufus occupied, was open
and empty. This she saw on the way. In the hall below she met Mrs.
Clayton.

"Rufus has not yet come in?" she said, interrogatively.

"No, I have not seen him. I saved some dinner for him, thinking he might
have been detained."

"I can't think why he doesn't come home. I think he must be here soon.
Do you know if he has a latch-key?"

"Yes, he got a new one of me the other day. Perhaps he has gone to some
place of amusement."

"He would not go without letting us know beforehand. He would know we
would feel anxious."

"Yes, he is more considerate than most young men of his age. I don't
think you need feel anxious about him."

Miss Manning went upstairs disappointed. She began to feel perplexed and
anxious. Suppose something should happen to Rufus, what would they do?
Rose would refuse to be comforted. She was glad the little girl was
asleep, otherwise she would be asking questions which she would be
unable to answer. It was now her hour for retiring, but she resolved to
sit up a little longer. More than an hour passed, and still Rufus did
not come. It seemed unlikely that he would return that night, and Miss
Manning saw that it was useless to sit up longer. It was possible,
however, that he might have come in, and gone at once to his room,
thinking it too late to disturb them. But, on going down to the next
floor, she saw that his room was still unoccupied.

Rose woke up early in the morning; Miss Manning was already awake.

"Did Rufie come last night?" asked the little girl.

"He had not come when I went to bed," was the answer. "Perhaps he came
in afterwards."

"May I dress and go down and see?"

"Yes, if you would like to."

Rose dressed quicker than usual, and went downstairs. She came up again
directly, with a look of disappointment.

"Miss Manning, he is not here," she said. "His chamber door is open,
and I saw that he had not slept in his bed."

"Very likely Mr. Turner sent him out of the city on business," said Miss
Manning, with an indifference which she did not feel.

"I wish he'd come," said Rose. "I shall give him a good scolding, when
he gets home, for staying away so lon