d in a long,
dull waiting for his return, only relieved by casual glimpses of Mrs.
Daniels' troubled face as she appeared at one window or another of
the old-fashioned mansion before me. She seemed, too, to be unusually
restless, opening the windows and looking out with forlorn cranings of
her neck as if she too were watching for her master. Indeed I have
no doubt from what I afterwards learned, that she was in a state of
constant suspense during these days. Her frequent appearance at the
station house, where she in vain sought for some news of the girl in
whose fate she was so absorbed, confirmed this. Only the day before I
gave myself up to my unreserved espionage of Mr. Blake, she had had an
interview with Mr. Gryce in which she had let fall her apprehensions
that the girl was dead, and asked whether if that were the case, the
police would be likely to come into a knowledge of the fact. Upon being
assured that if she had not been privately made way with, there was
every chance in their favor, she had grown a little calmer, but before
going away had so far forgotten herself as to intimate that if some
result was not reached before another fortnight had elapsed, she should
take the matter into her own hands and--She did not say what she would
do, but her looks were of a very menacing character. It was no wonder,
then, that her countenance bore marks of the keenest anxiety as she
trod the halls of that dim old mansion, with its dusky corners rich
with bronzes and the glimmering shine of ancient brocades, breathing
suggestions of loss and wrong; or bent her wrinkled forehead to gaze
from the windows for the coming of one whose footsteps were ever
delayed. She happened to be looking out, when after a longer stroll than
usual the master of the house returned. As he made his appearance at the
corner, I saw her hurriedly withdraw her head and hide herself behind
the curtain, from which position she watched him as with tired steps and
somewhat dejected mien, he passed up the steps and entered the house.
Not till the door closed upon him, did she venture to issue forth and
with a hurried movement shut the blinds and disappear. This anxiety on
her part redoubled mine, and thankful enough was I when on the next day
I found myself well enough to renew my operations. To ferret out this
mystery, if mystery it was,--I still found myself forced to admit the
possibility of there being none--had now become the one ambition of my
life; a