not a shadow cast by a tree,
unless it was one that had a double trunk for some distance up and then
these joined. The next moment he was convinced:--for it was the shadow
of a human being hiding behind a good-sized beech, probably in profound
ignorance that his presence was clearly shown to the person from whom he
was trying to hide.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

VANE IS MISSING.

Aunt Hannah had been very busy devoting herself according to her custom
in watching attentively while Eliza bustled about, spreading the cloth
for high tea--a favourite meal at the Little Manor. She had kept on
sending messages to Martha in the kitchen till that lady had snorted and
confided to Eliza, "that if missus sent her any more of them aggrawating
orders she would burn the chicken to a cinder."

For Aunt Hannah's great idea in life was to make those about her
comfortable and happy; and as Vane would return from his long walk tired
and hungry, she had ordered roast chicken for tea with the sausages Mrs
Rounds had sent as a present after the pig-killing.

That was all very well. Martha said "yes, mum," pleasantly and was
going to do her best; but unfortunately, Aunt Hannah made a remark which
sent the cook back to her kitchen, looking furious.

"As if I ever did forget to put whole peppers in the bread sauce," she
cried to Eliza with the addition of a snort, and from that minute there
were noises in the kitchen. The oven door was banged to loudly;
saucepans smote the burning coals with their bottoms heavily; coals were
shovelled on till the kitchen became as hot as Martha's temper, and the
plates put down to heat must have had their edges chipped, so hardly
were they rattled together.

But in the little drawing-room Aunt Hannah sat as happy and placid as
could be till it was drawing toward the time for Vane's return, when she
took her keys from her basket, and went to the store-room for a pot of
last year's quince marmalade and carried it into the dining-room.

"Master Vane is so fond of this preserve, Eliza," she said. "Oh, and,
by the way, ask Martha to send in the open jam tart. I dare say he
would like some of that."

"I did tell Martha so, ma'am."

"That was very thoughtful of you, Eliza."

"But she nearly snapped my head off, ma'am."

"Dear, dear, dear, I do wish that Martha would not be so easily put
out."

Aunt Hannah gave a glance over the table, and placing a fresh bunch of
flowers in a vase in the centre, and