ntie. Where
could he be, and what should they do?

Time was passing--the friends who were coming to dinner would be at the
villa before long; grandfather was _sure_ to appear in a few minutes.
What could they do?

"We must not tell grandfather, that is certain," said auntie. "May,
dear, it is very hard on you, I know, but I'll tell you how it must be.
You must stay here quietly and be ready for the friends who are coming,
and I will go off at once and do all, everything I can think of.
Mademoiselle Lucie, you know the town, and you can tell me all about the
police, and where to go to _in case_ we don't find our darling at once,
though I quite think we shall. I can't take you, Peters," for Peters was
eagerly coming forward, "Sir Raymond would miss you, nor you, Lisa, for
you must take care of the other children," at which Lisa all but broke
out crying; "It was too good of Mademoiselle Helene to trust her; she
didn't deserve it." "And Francois would be no good. You and I,
Mademoiselle Lucie, will go at once. And you must tell grandfather that
I was obliged to go out, for an hour or two, unexpectedly."

"I am afraid he will think it very strange," said mother, "but I will do
my best."

Mother spoke quietly, but her face was very white.

"Do go, Nelly," she said, "as quick as you can."

And Celia and Denny, who had been thinking of bursting into tears, took
example by her and auntie, and tried to look cheerful.

"Auntie," said Celia, running after her to the gate, "I'll be very good
and try to comfort mother. And we'll not let grandfather think there's
anything wrong. But oh, auntie dear, I _hope_ you'll soon bring dear
Baby safe home."

"So do I, darling," said auntie, stooping to kiss her, even though she
was so hurried, and, for the first time, there was a little quiver in
her voice, and Celia ran back to the others, thinking even more than
before how good and brave auntie was.

They hastened down the road, auntie and little Mademoiselle Lucie, I
mean. But when they had gone some little way, auntie stopped short.

"He may have gone by the other road, and we may miss him that way;" for,
without thinking, auntie had hurried out by the little gate opening on
to the lower road.

"I think not," said Mademoiselle Lucie, "at least the concierge would
have been sure to see him, and we did ask her, and she had not seen him
at all."

"To be sure," said auntie, "I forgot about the concierge."

"Besides," Mademoisel