ey were from Miss Mordaunt, and Mrs. Heron, and Ellerton, and the
lawyer, but they only reiterated the same thing--that all efforts had
been in vain, and that they could hear nothing of either Lady Redmond
or the boy; and then they urged him to come home at once. Lastly,
directed by Mrs. Heron, as though by an afterthought, was the letter
Fay had left for him upon the study-table; but, in reality, it had
been forwarded before the alarm had been given, for the seal was still
unbroken. Mrs. Heron, on learning from the messenger that Sir Hugh had
started for Egypt, had redirected it, and it had only just been posted
when the distracted nurse made her appearance at the Hall and told her
story. When Hugh read that poor little letter, his first feeling was
intense anger--all his Redmond blood was at fever-heat. She had sinned
beyond all mercy; she had compromised his name and his reputation, and
he would never forgive her.

He had confided his honor to a child, and she had played with it, and
cast it aside; she had dared to leave him and her home, and with his
child, too, and to bring the voice of scandal about them; she--Lady
Redmond, his wife--wandering like a vagabond at the world's mercy! His
feelings were intolerable. He must get back to England; he must find
her and hush it up, or his life would be worth nothing to him. Ah, it
was well for Fay that she was safely hidden in the old Manse, for, if
he had found her while this mood was on him, his anger would have
killed her.

When his passion had cooled a little, he went to Fitzclarence and told
him abruptly that he must return home at once--affairs of the utmost
importance recalled him.

Fitzclarence thought he looked very strange, but something in his
manner forbade all questioning. Two hours afterward he was on his way
to England.

There is an old proverb, often lightly quoted, and yet full of a wise
and solemn meaning, "_L'homme propose, et Dieu dispose_." Poor, angry
Hugh, traveling night and day, and cursing the tardy railways and
steamers, was soon to test the truth of the saying.

He had reached Marseilles, and was hurrying to the post-office to
telegraph some order to Mrs. Heron, when he suddenly missed his
footing, and found himself at the bottom of a steep, dark cellar, with
his leg doubled up under him; and when two passers-by who saw the
accident tried to move him, they discovered that his leg was broken;
and then he heard that he fainted.

And so fate