be found, after
leaving this place--for I discovered her in tears yesterday, burning
letters which were doubtless letters from her friends. In looks and
conduct she has altered most shockingly in the last week. I believe
there is some dreadful trouble on her mind; and I am afraid, from what I
see of her, that she is on the eve of a serious illness. It is very sad
to see such a young woman so utterly deserted and friendless as she is
now.

"Excuse my troubling you with this letter; it is on my conscience to
write it. If you know any of her relations, please warn them that time
is not to be wasted. If they lose to-morrow, they may lose the last
chance of finding her.

"Your humble servant,

"CATHERINE RUDDOCK."

X.

_From Mr. Loscombe to Mrs. Ruddock._

"Lincoln's Inn Fields, June 2d.

"MADAM--MY only connection with Mrs. Noel Vanstone was a professional
one, and that connection is now at an end. I am not acquainted with any
of her friends; and I cannot undertake to interfere personally, either
with her present or future proceedings.

"Regretting my inability to afford you any assistance, I remain, your
obedient servant,

"JOHN LOSCOMBE."

THE LAST SCENE.

AARON'S BUILDINGS

CHAPTER I.

ON the seventh of June, the owners of the merchantman _Deliverance_
received news that the ship had touched at Plymouth to land passengers,
and had then continued her homeward voyage to the Port of London. Five
days later, the vessel was in the river, and was towed into the East
India Docks.

Having transacted the business on shore for which he was personally
responsible, Captain Kirke made the necessary arrangements, by
letter, for visiting his brother-in-law's parsonage in Suffolk, on the
seventeenth of the month. As usual in such cases, he received a list of
commissions to execute for his sister on the day before he left London.
One of these commissions took him into the neighborhood of Camden Town.
He drove to his destination from the Docks; and then, dismissing the
vehicle, set forth to walk back southward, toward the New Road.

He was not well acquainted with the district; and his attention wandered
further and further away from the scene around him as he went on. His
thoughts, roused by the prospect of seeing his sister again, had led his
memory back to the night when he had parted from her, leaving the house
on foot. The spell so strangely laid on him, in that past time, had kept
its hold throu