candle and lamp,
the closing of doors, and an unpleasant, fatty smell, which gradually
dispersed as all the men departed but the miller.

"Hope, gentlemen," he said, in his big voice, "you don't think I hung
back from helping you."

"No, no, Rounds," said the doctor, sadly; "you are not the sort of man
to fail us in a pinch."

"Thankye, doctor," said the bluff fellow, holding out his hand. "Same
to you. I aren't forgot the way you come and doctored my missus when
she was so bad, and you not a reg'lar doctor, but out o' practice. But
nivver you fear; we'll find the lad. I shan't go to bed, but get back
and light a pipe. I can think best then; and mebbe I'll think out wheer
the young gent's gone."

"Thank you, Rounds," said the doctor. "Perhaps we had all better go and
try and think it out, for Heaven grant that it may not be so bad as we
fear."

"Amen to that!" cried the miller, "as clerk's not here. And say,
parson, I'll goo and get key of owd Chakes, and, at the first streak o'
daylight, I'll goo to belfry, and pull the rope o' the ting-tang to
rouse people oop. You'll know what it means."

He went off; and the rest of the party, preceded by Joseph Bruff having
sought his cottage, walked slowly back, all troubled by the same
feeling, omitting Distin, that they had done wrong in giving up so
easily, but at the same time feeling bound to confess that they could
have done no good by continuing the search.

As they reached the end of the rectory lane and the doctor said
"good-night," the rector urged him to come up to the rectory and lie
down on a couch till morning, but Doctor Lee shook his head.

"No," he said, "it is quite time I was back. There is someone sorrowing
there more deeply than we can comprehend. Till daybreak, Syme.
Good-night."

Macey stood listening to the doctor's retiring footsteps and then ran
after him.

"Hi! Macey!" cried Gilmore.

"Mr Macey, where are you going?" cried the rector.

But the boy heard neither of them as he ran on till the doctor heard the
footsteps and stopped.

"Yes," he said, "what is it?"

"Only me--Aleck Macey, sir."

"Yes, my lad? Have you brought a message from Mr Syme?"

"No, sir; I only wanted--I only thought--I--I--Doctor Lee, please let me
come and wait with you till it's time to start."

Macey began falteringly, but his last words came out with a rush.

"Why not go back to bed, my lad, and get some rest--some sleep?"

"Rest?--sleep? Who