nd had become quite used to having Max away sometimes all
day, and often until after eight in the evening, and, as a rule, she
was reasonably calm, but that nine o'clock should have passed without
hearing from him seemed beyond belief.

With the return of the searching party her courage gave way, and she
sank onto a low seat, her cheeks white, and her hands tightly
clenched.

The women gathered about her, trying to comfort her, but she seemed
not to hear what they said.

How still she sat, her hands still tightly clasped, her eyes looking
from one face to another.

Then her eyes closed. She had fainted, and gently they carried her to
her room, one woman promising to remain with her, after the doctor
should have gone.

Gwen had acted so strangely that Mrs. Harcourt had ordered a light
lunch sent up to their room, saying that Gwen was too ill to go down
to dinner, and that she would remain with her. No sound of the
excitement reached them. It was in vain that she questioned Gwen. Gwen
only replied that she and Max had quarreled, and that he had been
"just perfectly horrid."

When morning came, Gwen awoke feeling a bit better.

Having remained in their room all the afternoon and evening, they had
heard nothing of the search for Max, nor did they know that he had
not, as usual, returned.

CHAPTER XII

MAX A STOWAWAY

Soon after breakfast, Gwen, looking for someone to play with, ran
across the broad piazza to where, pale and weary, Mrs. Deland sat.

"I want Max," cried Gwen, in her usual pert manner.

"Where is he? When is he coming out?"

Mrs. Deland uttered a low cry.

"He's lost, little Gwen! Haven't you heard? They are searching
everywhere for him, and they force me, his mother, to remain here, and
wait with what patience I may."

With a sudden impulse she threw her arms about Gwen, and held her
close, then more gently lifted her face so that their eyes met.

"You loved my little Max," she said. "Are you sorry that he is not yet
found? Stop a moment; you played with him yesterday. When did you last
see him? When were you two children last together?"

"Oh, you're hurting me, holding me so tight. Let go, and I'll tell
where I saw him," cried Gwen.

"Why, child, I didn't dream I was really hurting you. Now tell me."

"I saw him 'way over to Princess Polly's house," Gwen said slowly,
"and we,--we, oh, we quarreled some, and Max didn't stay with me."

"Well, where did he go when he left you?