purpose,"
said the injured man; "but, right or wrong, there's where she'd go as
certain as the night come. I've seen her with my own eyes go into Mrs
Hadwin's garden-door, which she hadn't no need to go in but for being
encouraged; and it would be half an hour at the least afore she came
out."

"But, bless me! that was very imprudent of you," cried Mr Proctor, who
up to this time had not uttered a word.

"There was nobody there but the old lady and her maids--except the
clergyman," said Elsworthy. "It wasn't my part to think as she could
get any harm from the clergyman. She wouldn't hear no remonstrances
from me; she _would_ go as regular as the evening come."

"Yes, yes," said Mr Waters, who saw John Brown's humorous eye gleaming
round upon the little assembly; "but let us come to the immediate
matter in hand. Your niece disappeared from Carlingford on the--?"

"Yes, yes," said Mr Western, "we must not sink into conversation;
that's the danger of all unofficial investigations. It seems natural
to let him tell his story as he likes: but here we have got somebody
to keep us in order. It's natural, but it aint law--is it, Brown?"

"I don't see that law has anything to do with it," said John Brown,
with a smile.

"Order! order!" said the Rector, who was much goaded and aggravated by
this remark. "I request that there may be no conversation. The witness
will proceed with what he has to say. Your niece disappeared on the
15th. What were the circumstances of her going away?"

"She went down as usual with the newspaper," said Elsworthy; "it had got
to be a custom as regular as regular. She stopped out later nor common,
and my wife and me was put out. I don't mind saying, gentlemen," said
the witness, with candour, "as my missis and I wasn't altogether of the
same mind about Rosa. She was late, but I can't say as I was anxious. It
wasn't above a week afore that Mr Wentworth himself brought her home
safe, and it was well known as he didn't like her to be out at night; so
I was easy in my mind, like. But when eleven o'clock came, and there was
no denying of its being past hours, I began to get a little fidgety. I
stepped out to the door, and I looked up and down, and saw nobody; so I
took up my hat and took a turn down the road--"

At this moment there was a little disturbance outside. A voice at
which the Curate started was audible, asking entrance. "I must see Mr
Wentworth immediately," this voice said, as the door was