has seen them, nurse."

Her voice trembled a little, but she tried to smile. She would not break
down.

"I want to speak to Amy, nurse, and Master Tom; but Amy is less
excitable. Send them to me on the stairs here; we must not wake baby."

"I've questioned them," said nurse, "but they don't seem to know
anything. They'll be ready enough to tell if they do; they are very
upset."

Mrs. Beauchamp sat upon the lowest stair, with her anxious eyes fixed on
the nursery door. They were curiously like Susie's eyes, but with a
sweeter expression. They were smiling still, but it was such a sad smile
that after one look Amy flew helter-skelter downstairs and flung herself
into the welcoming arms.

"Amy," said her mother gently, "don't cry now; I haven't time. I am
anxious about Dickie's bronchitis"--it was curious how she clung to the
belief that it was only the bronchitis that troubled her--"it is so rainy
and cold! Do you know where Susie has gone?"

"No, mother," said Amy. She knelt upon the stair with her pale little
face pressed against her mother's cheek.

"Think, Amy," Mrs. Beauchamp urged.

"I have thoughted and thoughted," said Amy, "and I can only remember that
once, a long time ago, the twins said--"

"What twins?"

"Oh, I forgot you didn't know. They are twins, and they are friends of
Susie's. They are very reckless on the rocks, and sometimes Susie went
too."

"But when, Amy?"

"I don't know," said Amy, with literal truthfulness. "They didn't tell
me; they said I was a baby." Amy's eyes filled. "I wish Susie could be
found," she said.

"But you are helping me to find her," said her mother. "Now I have
something to go on.--Did you know, Tom? Have you ever been on the rocks
with the twins?"

"They told me not to tell," said Tom sturdily.

"But, Tom, that does not matter; it is right to break such a promise."

"If you break your promise you go to hell," said Tom.

"No, no, Tom--not when it is a matter--a matter of life and death. Do you
think they went on the rocks to-night?"

"I will tell you if you want me to," said Tom, "but Susie will be angry.
I don't know if she went to-day; so there!"

"Did you ever go?"

"Heaps and heaps of times," said Tom.

"And who are the twins?"

"I don't know."

"But their _name_, Tom?" she urged.

"I truly don't know, mummy."

"O Tom!"

Tom too had broken down, and his arms were round her neck.

"O mother, Susie didn't mean to go. She often and often d