to accompany you as far as my wife's shop. I
propose that she shall come back here with me, and examine poor little
Miss's bedroom. We will wait, of course, for your return, before
anything is done. In the mean time, I entreat you not to despair. It
is at least possible that the means of discovery may be found in the
bedroom."

They went out together, taking the first cab that passed them. Amelius
proceeded alone to the hotel.

Rufus was in his room. "What's gone wrong?" he asked, the moment Amelius
opened the door. "Shake hands, my son, and smother up that little
trouble between us in silence. Your face alarms me--it does! What of
Sally?"

Amelius started at the question. "Isn't she here?" he asked.

Rufus drew back. The mere action said, No, before he answered in words.

"Have you seen nothing of her? heard nothing of her?"

"Nothing. Steady, now! Meet it like a man; and tell me what has
happened."

Amelius told him in two words. "Don't suppose I'm going to break out
again as I did this morning," he went on; "I'm too wretched and too
anxious to be angry. Only tell me, Rufus, have you said anything to
her--?"

Rufus held up his hand. "I see what you're driving at. It will be more
to the purpose to tell you what she said to me. From first to last,
Amelius, I spoke kindly to her, and I did her justice. Give me a minute
to rummage my memory." After brief consideration, he carefully repeated
the substance of what had passed between Sally and himself, during the
latter part of the interview between them. "Have you looked about in
her room?" he inquired, when he had done. "There might be a trifling
something to help you, left behind her there."

Amelius told him of Toff's suggestion. They returned together at once to
the cottage. Madame Toff was waiting to begin the search.

The first discovery was easily made. Sally had taken off one or two
little trinkets--presents from Amelius, which she was in the habit of
wearing--and had left them, wrapped up in paper, on the dressing-table.
No such thing as a farewell letter was found near them. The examination
of the wardrobe came next--and here a startling circumstance revealed
itself. Every one of the dresses which Amelius had presented to her was
hanging in its place. They were not many; and they had all, on previous
occasions, been passed in review by Toff's wife. She was absolutely
certain that the complete number of the dresses was there in the
bedroom. Sally must