with a vague feeling of uneasiness she awaited anxiously the appearance of her visitor; nor waited long, for the half-closed door swung slowly back, and through the gathering darkness the shape came crawling on, over the threshold, into the room, towards the corner, its limbs distorted and bent, its white hair sweeping the floor.  With a smothered cry Madam Conway hid beneath the bedclothes, looking cautiously out at the singular object which came creeping on until the bed was reached.  It touched the counterpane, it was struggling to regain its feet, and with a scream of horror the terrified woman cried out, “Fiend, why are you here?” while a faint voice replied, “I am looking for Margaret.  I thought she was in bed”; and, rising up from her crouching posture, Hagar Warren stood face to face with the woman she had so long deceived.

“Wretch!” exclaimed the latter, her pride returning as she recognized old Hagar and thought of her as Maggie’s grandmother.  “Wretch, how dare you come into my presence?  Leave this room at once,” and a shrill cry of “Theo!  Theo!” rang through the house, bringing Theo at once to the chamber, where she started involuntarily at the sight which met her view.

“Who is it? who is it?” she exclaimed.

“It’s Hagar Warren.  Take her away!” screamed Madam Conway; while Hagar, raising her withered hand deprecatingly, said:  “Hear me first.  Do you know where Margaret is?  Has she been found?”

“No, no,” answered Theo, bounding to her side, while Madam Conway forgot to scream, and bent eagerly forward to listen, her symptoms of dissolution disappearing one by one as the strange narrative proceeded, and ere its close she was nearly dressed, standing erect as ever, her face glowing, and her eyes lighted up with joy.

“Gone to Leominster!  Henry Warner’s half-sister!” she exclaimed.  “Why didn’t she add a postscript to that letter, and tell us so?  Though the poor child couldn’t think of everything;” and then, unmindful of George Douglas, who at that moment entered the room, she continued:  “I should suppose Douglas might have found it out ere this.  But the moment I put my eyes upon that woman I knew no child of hers would ever know enough to find Margaret.  The Warners are a tolerably good family, I presume.  I’ll go after her at once.  Theo, bring my broche shawl, and wouldn’t you wear my satin hood?  ’Twill be warmer than my leghorn.”

“Grandma,” said Theo, in utter astonishment, “What do you mean?  You surely are not going to Leominster to-night, as sick as you are?”

“Yes, I am going to Leominster to-night,” answered the decided woman; “and this gentleman,” waving her hand majestically towards George, “will oblige me much by seeing that the carriage is brought out.”

Theo was about to remonstrate, when George whispered:  “Let her go; Henry and Rose are probably not at home, but Margaret may be there.  At all events, a little airing will do the old lady good;” and, rather pleased than otherwise with the expedition, he went after John, who pronounced his mistress “crazier than Hagar.”