dly
understood the particulars, he went on towards Comfort's house, intending
to raise the alarm there, and also at Mitchell's, Beach's,
Cripplestraw's, the parson's, the clerk's, the camp of dragoons, of
hussars, and so on through the whole county. But he paused, and thought
it would be hardly expedient to publish his discomfiture in such a way.
If Matilda had left the house for any freakish reason he would not care
to look for her, and if her deed had a tragic intent she would keep aloof
from camp and village.

In his trouble he thought of Anne. She was a nice girl and could be
trusted. To her he went, and found her in a state of excitement and
anxiety which equalled his own.

''Tis so lonely to cruise for her all by myself!' said Bob
disconsolately, his forehead all in wrinkles, 'and I've thought you would
come with me and cheer the way?'

'Where shall we search?' said Anne.

'O, in the holes of rivers, you know, and down wells, and in quarries,
and over cliffs, and like that. Your eyes might catch the loom of any
bit of a shawl or bonnet that I should overlook, and it would do me a
real service. Please do come!'

So Anne took pity upon him, and put on her hat and went, the miller and
David having gone off in another direction. They examined the ditches of
fields, Bob going round by one fence and Anne by the other, till they met
at the opposite side. Then they peeped under culverts, into outhouses,
and down old wells and quarries, till the theory of a tragical end had
nearly spent its force in Bob's mind, and he began to think that Matilda
had simply run away. However, they still walked on, though by this time
the sun was hot and Anne would gladly have sat down.

'Now, didn't you think highly of her, Miss Garland?' he inquired, as the
search began to languish.

'O yes,' said Anne, 'very highly.'

'She was really beautiful; no nonsense about her looks, was there?'

'None. Her beauty was thoroughly ripe--not too young. We should all
have got to love her. What can have possessed her to go away?'

'I don't know, and, upon my life, I shall soon be drove to say I don't
care!' replied the mate despairingly. 'Let me pilot ye down over those
stones,' he added, as Anne began to descend a rugged quarry. He stepped
forward, leapt down, and turned to her.

She gave him her hand and sprang down. Before he relinquished his hold,
Captain Bob raised her fingers to his lips and kissed them.

'O, Captain Lo