of any
effectual import was obtained from the good man of the house. He had
evidently persuaded himself that Clarke's disappearance was easily
accounted for, and would scarcely lend attention to any other suggestion
than that of Clarke's dishonesty. Nor did his recollection of the
meetings between Houseman and Clarke furnish him with any thing worthy
of narration. With a spirit somewhat damped and disappointed, Walter,
accompanied by the Curate, recommenced his expedition.

CHAPTER XI.

GRIEF IN A RUFFIAN.--THE CHAMBER OF EARLY DEATH.--A HOMELY YET MOMENTOUS
CONFESSION.--THE EARTH'S SECRETS.--THE CAVERN.--THE ACCUSATION.

ALL is not well;
I doubt some foul play.
............
Foul deeds will rise,
Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes.
--Hamlet.

As they passed through the street, they perceived three or four persons
standing round the open door of a house of ordinary description, the
windows of which were partially closed.

"It is the house," said the curate, "in which Houseman's daughter
died,--poor, poor child! Yet why mourn for the young? Better that the
light cloud should fade away into heaven with the morning breath, than
travel through the weary day to gather in darkness and end in storm."

"Ah, sir!" said an old man, leaning on his stick and lifting his hat, in
obeisance to the curate, "the father is within, and takes on bitterly.
He drives them all away from the room, and sits moaning by the bedside,
as if he was a going out of his mind. Won't your reverence go in to him
a bit?"

The curate looked at Walter inquiringly. "Perhaps," said the latter,
"you had better go in: I will wait without." While the curate hesitated,
they heard a voice in the passage; and presently Houseman was seen at
the far end, driving some women before him with vehement gesticulations.
"I tell you, ye hell-hags," shrieked his harsh and now straining
voice, "that ye suffered her to die! Why did ye not send to London for
physicians? Am I not rich enough to buy my child's life at any price? By
the living ___, I would have turned your very bodies into gold to have
saved her! But she's DEAD! and I ___ Out of my sight; out of my way!"
And with his hands clenched, his brows knit, and his head uncovered,
Houseman sallied forth from the door, and Walter recognized the
traveller of the preceding night. He stopped abruptly as he saw the
little knot wi