ople. I'm not clever
myself. I can only say Hester went back to Southminster directly she
arrived here."

Hardly had the Pratts taken their departure when Doll Loftus was ushered
in. His wife had sent him to ask where Hester was, as Fraeulein had
alarmed her earlier in the day. Doll at least asked no questions. He had
never asked but one in his life, and that had been of his wife, five
seconds before he had become engaged to her.

He accepted with equanimity the information that Hester had returned to
Southminster, and departed to impart the same to his exasperated wife.

"But why did she go back? She had only that moment arrived," inquired
Sybell. How should Doll know. She, Sybell, had said she could not rest
till she knew where Hester was, and he, Doll, had walked to Warpington
through the snow-drifts to find out for her. And he had found out, and
now she wanted to know something else. There was no satisfying some
women. And the injured husband retired to unlace his boots.

Yes, Mrs. Gresley had passed an uncomfortable day. She had ventured out
for a few minutes, and had found Abel, with his arms akimbo;
contemplating the little gate which led to the stables. It was lying on
the ground. He had swept the snow off it.

"I locked it up the same as usual last night," he said to Mrs. Gresley.
"There's been somebody about as has tampered it off its hinges. Yet
nothing hasn't been touched, the coal nor the stack. It doesn't seem
natural, twisting the gate off for nothing."

Mrs. Gresley did not answer. She did not associate Hester with the gate.
But she was too much perturbed to care about such small matters at the
moment.

"His lordship's coachman tell me as Miss Gresley was at the Palace,"
continued Abel, "while I was a hotting up his mash for him, for William
had gone in with a note, and onst he's in the kitchen the hanimals might
be stocks and stones for what he cares. He said his nevvy, the footman,
heard the front door-bell ring just as he was getting into bed last
night, and Miss Gresley come in without her hat, with the snow upon her.
The coachman said as she must ha' run afoot all the way."

Abel looked anxiously at Mrs. Gresley.

"I was just thinking," he said, "as perhaps the little lady wasn't quite
right in her 'ead. They do say as too much learning flies to the 'ead,
the same as spirits to them as ain't manured to 'em. And the little lady
does work desperate hard."

"Not as hard as Mr. Gresley," sai