to show, why should you, no relative as you acknowledge, take the
matter so to heart as to insist she shall be followed and brought back?"

She turned away, uneasily taking up and putting down some little matters
on the table before her. "Is it not enough that I promise to pay for
all expenses which a search will occasion, without my being forced to
declare just why I should be willing to do so? Am I bound to tell you I
love the girl? that I believe she has been taken away by foul means,
and that to her great suffering and distress? that being fond of her and
believing this, I am conscientious enough to put every means I possess
at the command of those who will recover her?"

I was not satisfied with this but on that very account felt my
enthusiasm revive.

"But Mr. Blake? Surely he is the one to take this interest if anybody."

"I have before said," returned she, paling however as she spoke, "that
Mr. Blake takes very little interest in his servants."

I cast another glance about the room. "How long have you been in this
house?" asked I.

"I was in the service of Mr. Blake's father and he died a year ago."

"Since when you have remained with Mr. Blake himself?"

"Yes sir."

"And this Emily, when did she come here?"

"Oh it must be eleven months or so ago."

"An Irish girl?"

"O no, American. She is not a common person, sir."

"What do you mean by that? That she was educated, lady-like, pretty, or
what?"

"I don't know what to say. She was educated, yes, but not as you would
call a lady educated. Yet she knew a great many things the rest of us
did'nt. She liked to read, you see, and--O sir, ask the girls about her,
I never know what to say when I am questioned."

I scanned the gray-haired woman still more intently than I had yet done.
Was she the weak common-place creature she seemed, or had she really
some cause other than appeared for these her numerous breaks and
hesitations.

"Where did you get this girl?" I inquired. "Where did she live before
coming here?"

"I cannot say, I never asked her to talk about herself. She came to me
for work and I liked her and took her without recommendation."

"And she has served you well?"

"Excellently."

"Been out much? Had any visitors?"

She shook her head. "Never went out and never had any visitors."

I own I was nonplussed, "Well," said I, "no more of this at present.
I must first find out if she left this house alone or in company with
others." An