come in?" he asked, when the
butler appeared.

"No, sir."

"And dinner's spoiling, isn't it, Hedges?" broke in the dowager.

"It won't be any the better for waiting, my lady."

"No. I must exercise my privilege and order it served. At once, Hedges,
do you hear? If Hartledon grumbles, I shall tell him it serves him
right."

"But where can Hartledon be?" cried Captain Dawkes.

"That's what I am wondering," said Val. "He can't be on the river all
this time; Carteret would have seen him in coming home."

A strangely grave shade, looking almost like a prevision of evil, arose
to Dr. Ashton's face. "I trust nothing has happened to him," he
exclaimed. "Where did you part company with him, Mr. Carteret?"

"That's more than I can tell you, sir. You must have seen--at least--no,
you were not there; but those looking on must have seen me get ahead of
him within view of the starting-point; soon after that I lost sight of
him. The river winds, you know; and of course I thought he was coming on
behind me. Very daft of me, not to divine that the boat had been
removed!"

"Do you think he passed the mill?"

"The mill?"

"That place where the river forms what might almost be called a miniature
harbour. A mill is built there which the stream serves. You could not
fail to see it."

"I remember now. Yes, I saw the mill. What of it?"

"Did Lord Hartledon pass it?"

"How should I know!" cried the boy. "I had lost sight of him ages before
that."

"The current is extremely rapid there," observed Dr. Ashton. "If he found
his arm failing, he might strike down to the mill and land there; and his
ankle may be keeping him a prisoner."

"And that's what it is!" exclaimed Val.

They were crossing the hall to the dining-room. Without the slightest
ceremony, the countess-dowager pushed herself foremost and advanced to
the head of the table.

"I shall occupy this seat in my nephew's absence," said she. "Dr. Ashton,
will you be so good as to take the foot? There's no one else."

"Nay, madam; though Lord Hartledon may not be here, Mr. Elster is."

She had actually forgotten Val; and would have liked to ignore him now
that he was recalled to remembrance; but that might not be. As much
contempt as could be expressed in her face was there, as she turned her
snub nose and small round eyes defiantly upon that unoffending younger
brother.

"I was going to request you to take it, sir," said Percival, in low
tones, to Dr. Ashton. "I sh