t, to find that he had
never left the library.

"The puir lassie was half daft last neet, Sir Mooray; but it's a' owre
noo, and she's tending the bairn."

"I wanted you, McCray!" exclaimed Sir Murray, the coming of the staunch
servitor seeming to rouse him into life. "I am going to search in one
direction: you arrange the men in parties, and leave no place unscoured.
Give orders, too, that the great nets be brought out, and let the lake
be dragged."

He shuddered as he spoke these last words, and the gardener turned to
go.

"What time is it now?" inquired Sir Murray.

"Just seven of the clock, Sir Mooray," was the reply; and then McCray
took his departure, heedless of the supercilious looks bestowed upon him
by one of the footmen, who could not understand what Sir Murray could be
thinking about to have that great coarse gardener in the house, and
treat him as an equal.

But Sir Murray had placed matters in the right hands. Before half an
hour had elapsed parties were organised, consisting of the servants and
labourers from the farm close at hand; and a regular search was
instituted, the land being methodically gone over--field and forest,
bush and ditch. The lake was dragged in every direction, and hour after
hour spent, but always with the same result--failure.

There were not wanting those who asserted that my lady must have
wandered right away, and the bounds of the search were extended, but
still in vain; and at mid-day the parties rested for refreshment, and to
determine upon some new plan of action.

Meanwhile, a horse had been brought to the door; and mounting, Sir
Murray rode hastily over to the Hall, where, for form's sake, he asked
to see Captain Norton, and upon being told of his absence, requested to
be shown in to Mrs Norton.

She met him without rising, but sat trembling visibly, as she drew her
boy closer to her; for a sense of dread seemed to rob her of the power
to move. But a few hours since, and it had been declared to her that
this man had tried to poison her cousin, and now he was here. She could
not speak, but motioned him to a chair, trying to overcome her weakness,
and to meet with fortitude the new misfortune she felt certain was
impending.

Sir Murray saw her motion, but he remained standing; and for full five
minutes he watched her, with a look mingled of curiosity and compassion.

"Mrs Norton," he said at last, "I have come to inflict pain, but I
cannot help it. You must