asked how they would find her out? they
smiled, shook their heads, and spoke of mysterious but infallible ways
and means. He returned to his nephew's house with a very comfortable
opinion of his own sagacity. He was met by his wife with a penitent
face:

"O master, I've found my brooch! It was just sticking by its pin in the
flounce of my brown silk, that I wore yesterday. I took it off in a
hurry, and it must have caught in it; and I hung up my gown in the
closet. Just now, when I was going to fold it up, there was the brooch!
I'm very vexed, but I never dreamt but what it was lost!"

Her husband muttering something very like "Confound thee and thy brooch
too! I wish I'd never given it thee," snatched up his hat, and rushed
back to the station; hoping to be in time to stop the police from
searching for Norah. But a detective was already gone off on the errand.

Where was Norah? Half mad with the strain of the fearful secret, she had
hardly slept through the night for thinking what must be done. Upon this
terrible state of mind had come Ailsie's questions, showing that she had
seen the Man, as the unconscious child called her father. Lastly came
the suspicion of her honesty. She was little less than crazy as she ran
up-stairs and dashed on her bonnet and shawl; leaving all else, even her
purse, behind her. In that house she would not stay. That was all she
knew or was clear about. She would not even see the children again, for
fear it should weaken her. She feared above everything Mr. Frank's
return to claim his wife. She could not tell what remedy there was for a
sorrow so tremendous, for her to stay to witness. The desire of escaping
from the coming event was a stronger motive for her departure than her
soreness about the suspicions directed against her; although this last
had been the final goad to the course she took. She walked away almost
at headlong speed; sobbing as she went, as she had not dared to do during
the past night for fear of exciting wonder in those who might hear her.
Then she stopped. An idea came into her mind that she would leave London
altogether, and betake herself to her native town of Liverpool. She felt
in her pocket for her purse, as she drew near the Euston Square station
with this intention. She had left it at home. Her poor head aching, her
eyes swollen with crying, she had to stand still, and think, as well as
she could, where next she should bend her steps. Sudd