had turned sulky and would say nothing more. After one or two
vain attempts to induce her to speak, therefore, Herrick abandoned the
idea; and Eva withdrew with a malicious little smile on her lips which
rendered her husband still more uneasy.

He wandered restlessly about his small domain, puzzling his head as to
what could have happened to Toni. He had not seen her often of late.
Indeed, he had fancied once or twice that she was avoiding him; and he
was sorry, for the girl had made an instant claim upon his sympathies,
and he had often meditated over her chances of turning her marriage into
a success.

Somehow he had a presentiment of evil. Something seemed to tell him that
Toni's flight was premeditated, that she had fled from her home
secretly, with the intention of leaving her husband for ever; and
although he told himself that the idea was monstrous, grotesque, he
could not shake it off.

Doubtless there were a dozen explanations. Perhaps she had gone for a
little stroll, and had lost her way in the fog. She might have dropped
in at some house in the neighbourhood, and, talking, let the hours slip
by. Ten chances to one, she was even now safe at home; and it was absurd
to worry about her. And yet----

And yet there _were_ other possibilities. In the fog it would be easy
indeed to miss one's road--with tragic results. One false step off the
towing-path, for instance, and the river, dark and silent, would flow on
its way, carrying with it a burden hardly more animated, yet a hundred
times more precious, than the sticks and leaves which floated down with
the current....

Suddenly Herrick sprang up, unable to bear this haunted solitude any
longer. He felt as though he must go forth to make inquiries for
himself, to ascertain whether Toni had returned or no, whether all
possible measures had been taken for her safety.

Surely the people at Greenriver would not take his visit amiss? Seeing
that his wife and Mrs. Rose were known to be friends, it was only
natural that Mrs. Herrick should be anxious; and in any case he could
bear this inaction no longer.

Going into the hall he selected an overcoat and cap, and then, going to
the foot of the stairs, called out to his wife.

"Well?" She came to the head of the stairs, and stood looking at him
over the banisters. She had a lighted candle in her hand; and somehow
the wavering flame seemed to cast a sinister shadow over her face.

"I am going to Greenriver, Eva, t