f absence allowed, hoping to see his aunt become a little stronger, and
to give her what comfort he could by his presence. Her patient trust in
Him Who could bring good out of evil was a great consolation to the
saddened father in the sorrow that had fallen upon him.

CHAPTER X.

While all her relations were mourning for her; while Aunt Betty was
lying at death's door, stricken down by anxiety and sorrow; while Lord
Lynwood scarcely dared look on the faces of his brother's children
because they reminded him of his own lost darling--where was Estelle?

It was now more than a month since she had been missing, and no news had
been received.

Without one moment's thought for her own safety, without any remembrance
of Lady Coke's desires--nay, positive orders--she had plunged into the
ruined summer-house after Bootles. Darting down the dark passage, in
eager chase of the cat, the dog was deaf to her cries to him to come
back. Hardly knowing what she was doing, she followed him. The passage
grew darker and darker, and she could not even see the faint light from
the open door. A fall over a heap of stones first made her realise she
had better return, since no one knew where the passage led. She did not
like to leave the dog, but, nevertheless, she hesitated a moment to call
again to him before retracing her steps. She was surprised and horrified
to find that her shout had the effect of bringing down some loose stones
and earth on her head. It frightened her sufficiently to make her set
off in earnest towards the door.

'I shall tell Georgie I have been down the passage, and that it is
dreadful, and not at all interesting,' she thought, as she felt her way
with a hand on the wall.

A glimmer of light, as she turned the corner, comforted her, and she
stopped a moment to call gently to the dog, afraid to raise her voice
too high for fear of the falling roof. Scarcely had she paused, however,
when a great crash came, followed by a long mingled sound of many stones
and much earth falling. It seemed as if the whole roof must be coming
down. A shower of damp soil descended upon her head, and one clod larger
than the rest knocked her over. Happily she was more stunned and
frightened than hurt. The glimmer of light had disappeared, and she
began to realise that the door must have shut. Terrible as her position
was, the full horror of it did not dawn upon her at first.

Shaking herself free from the clinging mould, she go