Nurse; "it's that dreadful young lady. But
she'll bring her back. Sure, what else could she do, lovey? She'll bring
the little one back, and, by the blessing of the good God, she'll be
none the worse for this. Don't take on so, Miss Polly! Don't look like
that, dear! Why, your looks fairly scare me."

"I'll be better in a minute," said Polly. "This is no time for feelings.
I'll be quiet in a minute. Have you got any cold water? There's such a
horrid loud noise in my ears."

She rushed across the room, poured a quantity of water into a basin, and
laved her face and head.

"Now I can think," she said. "What did Flower do, Nurse? Tell me
everything; tell me in very few words, please, for there isn't a
moment--there isn't half a moment--to lose."

"It was this way, dear: she came into the room, and took baby into her
arms, and asked for some dinner. She didn't seem no way taken with baby
at first, but when I told her how much you loved our little Miss Pearl,
she asked me to give her to her quite greedy-like, and ordered me to
fetch some dinner for herself, for she was starving, she said. I offered
that Alice should bring it; but no, she was all that I should choose
something as would tempt her appetite, and she coaxed with that pretty
way she have, and I went down to the kitchen myself to please her. I'll
never forgive myself, never, to the longest day I live. I wasn't ten
minutes gone, but when I come back with a nice little tray of curry, and
some custard pie, Miss Flower and the baby were away. That's all--they
hasn't been seen since."

"How long ago is that, Nurse?"

"I couldn't rightly tell you, dearie--maybe two hours back. I ran all
round the moor anywhere near, and so did every servant in the house, but
since the Doctor come in they has done the thing properly. Now where are
you going, Miss Polly, love?"

"To my father. I wish this horrid noise wouldn't go on in my head. Don't
worry me, Nurse. I know it was my fault. I wouldn't listen to the
warning, and I would provoke her, but don't scold me now until I have
done my work."

Polly rushed downstairs.

"Where's father?" she asked of Bunny, who was sobbing violently, and
clinging in a frantic manner to Firefly's skirts.

"I--I don't know. He's out."

"He's away on the moor," said Fly. "Polly, are you really anxious about
baby Pearl?"

"I have no time to be anxious," said Polly. "I must find her first. I'll
tell you then if I'm anxious. Where's Nell, wh