between her gasps; 'but I've locked it!' and she waved a
door-key, and seemed about to laugh hysterically.

'Sit down, Charlotte,' said Louis, authoritatively, bringing a chair.
'If you do not explain yourself reasonably at once, I shall call Mrs.
Bowles, and desire her to put you to bed.'

She made an imploring gesture, sank trembling into the chair, and,
after a few incoherent efforts, managed to speak--'If you would but
come to master, my Lord--I know it is something bad.'

Louis thought it wisest to despatch Frampton at once to order the
carriage to be brought out immediately; and this so far pacified
Charlotte, that she could speak comprehensibly on the cause of her
alarm. 'He is in such a way!' she began. 'He went out to the
school-examination, I believe, in his cap and gown, this morning; he
was gone all day, but just at dusk I heard him slam-to the front door,
fit to shake the house down, like he does when he is put out. I'd a
thought nothing of that; but by-and-by I heard him stamping up and down
the study, like one in a frenzy, and I found his cap and gown lying all
of a heap in a corner of the hall. Then, Mr. Calcott came to call; and
when I went into the study, master had his head down on the table, and
wouldn't see no one; he fairly stamped to me to be gone, and bring him
no more messages. Mr. Calcott, he looked so sorry and concerned, and
sent in again. I was to say that he hoped some arrangement might be
made, if Mr. Frost would only see him; but master had locked the door,
and hallooed out that I was to say he was obliged, but couldn't see
nobody. So Mr. Calcott was forced to go; and there was poor master.
Not one morsel of dinner has he had. I knocked, but he would not open,
only said he did not want for nothing. No, not even when 'twas time
for Miss Catharine to come down. She thumped at the door, and called
'Papa' so pretty; but he never heeded, except to call out, 'Take her
away!' Charlotte was crying so much that she could hardly proceed.
'Then I knew it must be something very melancholy indeed. But
by-and-by he opens the door with a great jerk, and runs right up to the
lumber-room. I saw his face, and 'twas like a corpse, my Lord; and he
brings down his portmanteau into his dressing-room, and I hears him
pulling out all his drawers. 'He'll be gone!' I thinks, 'he'll be off
to America, too! And my poor mistress!' So I went up quietly, and in
secret, unbeknown to them all, and got m