as they were inside the drawing-room, impressed by
the scene before them, for there, half sitting, half lying, and fast
asleep, with the tears on her cheeks still wet, as if she had wept as
she lay there unconscious, was Kitty, for the bricks on the opposite
wall had been too indistinct for her to see.

"Don't wake her," said Uncle Josiah softly, and he signed to them to go
back into the hall, where he turned to Jessie.

"Did you see Miss Kitty last night?"

"Ye-es, sir."

"Where?"

"She comed into the kitchen, sir."

"After we had gone to bed?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you said nothing just now?"

"No, sir, I didn't like to."

"That will do. Be off," said the old man sternly. "Laura. Here!"

Mrs Lavington followed her brother back into the dining-room.

"The poor child must have been sitting up to watch for Lindon's return."

"And he has not returned, Josiah," sobbed Mrs Lavington.

"Here, stop! What are you going to do?"

"I am going up to his room to see," said the sobbing woman.

Uncle Josiah made no opposition, for he read the mother's thought, and
followed her upstairs, where a half-open drawer told tales, and in a few
moments Mrs Lavington had satisfied herself.

"I cannot say exactly," she said piteously; "but he has made up a bundle
of his things."

"The coward!" cried Uncle Josiah fiercely.

"Gone! Gone! My poor boy!"

"Hush!" cried the old man sternly. "He has sneaked off like a
contemptible cur. No, I will not believe it of him," he added
impetuously. "Lindon has too much stuff in him to play such a
despicable part. You are wrong, Laura. Come down and finish breakfast.
I will not believe it of the boy."

"But he has gone, Josiah, he has gone," sobbed his sister.

"Then if he has, it is the yielding to a sudden impulse, and as soon as
he comes to his senses he will return. Lindon will not be such a
coward, Laura. Mark my words."

"You are saying this to comfort me," said Mrs Lavington sadly.

"I am saying what I think," cried her brother. "If I thought he had
gone right off, I would say so, but I do not think anything of the kind.
He may have thought of doing so last night, but this morning he will
repent and come back."

He took his sister's hand gently, and led her downstairs, making her
resume her place at the table, and taking his own again, as he made a
pretence of going on with his breakfast; but before he had eaten his
second mouthful there was a dull heavy thum