was very sore at heart, as he and
Carlo walked a little apart from the others of the returning party, the
dog abject and depressed in attitude as he trotted by his side, as if
conscious of what his master was feeling.

Mr. Gregory looked upon his sleeping children and returned home; the
others retired for an hour's rest before going out to their sick
patients. Besides, there were new search parties to be organised. To the
Ugly Leap went the doctor again as the day wore on; the dark waters of
the gorge were searched, so far as such a mysterious stream could be
searched, emerging from the heart of the earth, and only flowing a few
yards, it may be, in the light of day, ere it dived away into the
darkness and secrecy from which it had come. Ah! there was neither sign
nor token of the missing boy, there or elsewhere. Nothing,
nowhere--these were the words that went the round of Cherton, with their
dreary hopelessness, as the days flowed on, and tidings went here and
there of the lost boy, while his description was sent to the police
authorities, far and wide.

But there came no answer as day succeeded day, and March blustered
itself away, and sweet fickle April took its place; all was silence, as
if the lad had indeed vanished from the earth. Had he?

Inna went daily for lessons to the Owl's Nest. It was well to get away
from the house, Mrs. Grant said, for the child moped and grew pale under
the suspense and mystery of what had befallen this strong, wilful,
good-natured cousin of hers, whom she had been gathering to her as the
brother she had long sighed for. True, Jenny came over to see her, for
she too was lonely, with Dick gone back to school; but what could Jenny
understand about her heartache?--she with her brother safe at school,
while Oscar, Inna's all but brother, was nobody knew where.

"I wish he hadn't played truant that day, and I wish I hadn't let him:"
this was the burdened little plaint, making her heart so heavy, and
which she ventured to pour out to Mr. Barlow one day.

"Oh, my dear little lady, don't think that what happened came of his
playing truant. I know it isn't a pleasant thought that there was that
little hitch of underhand doings; and if he'd only mentioned the going
to the Tor, we could have told you all snow was coming, thanks to the
glass. But, mind me, we don't get our deserts in that way, or we should
be always having a whipping. And I never give up hope with a patient
till the last re