and at last he (Bolt) had lost patience with
him, and had proposed to him to take an annual payment of nine hundred
pounds instead of a share, and leave the concern. Little had asked two
days to consider this proposal. "Now," argued Bolt, "if he meant to
leave England, he could not do better than take my offer: and he would
have taken it before he left. He would have called, or else sent me a
letter. But no; not a word! It's a bad job: I'm fond of money, but I'd
give a few thousands to see him alive again. But I don't think I ever
shall. There are five hundred thousand bricks of ours in that river, and
a foot and a half of mud."

While they were both shuddering at this dark allusion, he went off into
idle threats, and Grace left him, sick and cold, and clinging to Dr.
Amboyne like a drowning woman.

"Have courage," said Dr. Amboyne. "There is one chance left us. His
mother! I will telegraph to Aberystwith."

They drove together to the telegraph-office, and sent a telegram. The
doctor would not consent to frighten Mrs. Little to death. He simply
asked whether her son had just visited or written to her. The answer was
paid for; but four hours elapsed, and no answer came.

Then Grace implored the doctor to go with her to Aberystwith. He looked
grave, and said she was undertaking too much. She replied, almost
fiercely, that she must do all that could be done, or she should go mad.

"But your father, my dear!"

"He is in London. I will tell him all when he returns. He would let me
go anywhere with you. I must go; I will!"

At four o'clock they were in the train. They spoke to each other but
little on the way; their hearts were too full of dire forebodings to
talk about nothings. But, when they were in the fly at Aberystwith,
going from the station to Mrs. Little's lodgings, Grace laid her head on
her friend's shoulder and said, "Oh, doctor, it has come to this; I hope
he loved his mother better than me." Then came a flood of tears--the
first.

They went to Mrs. Little's lodgings. The landlady had retired to bed,
and, on hearing their errand, told them, out of the second-floor window,
that Mrs. Little had left her some days ago, and gone to a neighboring
village for change of air.

Grace and Dr. Amboyne drove next morning to that village, and soon
learned where Mrs. Little was. Dr. Amboyne left Grace at the inn, for he
knew the sight of her would at once alarm Mrs. Little; and in a matter
so uncertain as this, he