very late. No business to have gone
out."

Uncle Josiah began his breakfast. Mrs Lavington could not taste hers.

Then Jessie entered, looking startled.

"If you please, sir--"

"Well, if you please what?"

"Miss Kitty, sir."

"Yes?"

"She's not in her room."

"Eh?" ejaculated the old merchant. "Humph! Come down and gone for a
walk, I suppose. Back soon."

The breakfast went on, but there was no Kitty, no Don, and Uncle Josiah
began to eat his food ferociously.

At last he got up and rang the bell sharply, and Jessie responded.

"What time did Master Lindon come home?" he said.

"Come home, sir?"

"Yes; did I not speak plainly? I said what time did Master Lindon come
home?"

"Please, sir, he didn't come home at all."

"What!" roared Uncle Josiah, and Mrs Lavington nearly let her cup fall.

"Please, sir, I sat in my chair waiting all the night."

"And he has not been back?"

"No, sir."

"Nonsense! Go and knock at his door. Tell him to come at once."

"Excuse me, Josiah," said Mrs Lavington excitedly; "let me go."

Uncle Josiah grunted his consent, and Mrs Lavington hurried out into
the hall, and then upstairs.

"Slipped in while you were half asleep," said the old man to Jessie.

"No, sir, indeed. I've been watching carefully all night."

"Humph! There's half a crown for you to buy a hat ribbon, Jessie.
Well," he continued as his sister entered hastily, "what does he say?"

"Josiah!" cried the trembling woman, "what does this mean? Don was out
when I went up yesterday evening, and he has not been to his room all
night."

"What?"

"Neither has Kitty been to hers."

Uncle Josiah thrust back his chair, and left his half-eaten breakfast.

"Look here," he exclaimed in a hoarse voice; "what nonsense is this?"

"No nonsense, Josiah," cried Mrs Lavington. "I felt a presentiment."

"Felt a stuff and nonsense!" he said angrily. "Kitty not in her room?
Kitty not been to bed? Here, Jessie!"

"Yes, sir."

"You did go to sleep, didn't you?"

"Ye-e-e-s, sir!"

"I thought as much, and,"--here tut-tut-tut--"that would not explain it.
Hullo, what do you want?"

This was to the cook, who tapped, opened the door, and then held up her
hand as if to command silence.

"Please, 'm, would you mind coming here?" she said softly. Mrs
Lavington ran to the door, followed the woman across the hall, unaware
of the fact that the old merchant was close at her heels.

They paused as soon