“I think I had better go and ask her,” Tommy said.  He was mightily relieved for Grizel’s sake.  No one need ever know now what had called her away except Corp and Gavinia, and even they thought she had merely been to London.  How well the little gods were managing the whole affair!  As he walked to Grizel’s lodgings to say what he had been saying in the train, the thought came to him for a moment that as no one need ever know where she had been there was less reason why he should do this generous thing.  But he put it from him with lofty disdain.  Any effect it had was to make him walk more firmly to his sacrifice, as if to show all ignoble impulses that they could find no home in that swelling breast He was pleased with himself, was Tommy.

“Grizel, I have come back.”  He said it to the night, and bowed his head.  He said it with head accompaniment to Grizel’s lighted window.  He said it to himself as he reached the door.  He never said it again.

For Gavinia’s first words were:  “It’s you, Mr. Sandys!  Wherever is she?  For mercy’s sake, dinna say you’ve come without her!” And when he blinked at this, she took him roughly by the arm and cried, “Wherever’s Grizel?”

“She is here, Gavinia.”

“She’s no here.”

“I saw her light.”

“You saw my light.”

“Gavinia, you are torturing me.  She came back to-day.”

“What makes you say that?  You’re dreaming.  She hasna come back.”

“Corp saw her come in by the afternoon train.  He spoke to her.”

Gavinia shook her head incredulously.  “You’re just imagining that,” she said.

“He told me.  Gavinia, I must see for myself,” She stared after him as he went up the stairs.  “You are very cruel, Gavinia,” he said, when he came down.  “Tell me where she is.”

“May I be struck, Mr. Sandys, if I’ve seen or heard o’ her since she left this house eight days syne.”  He knew she was speaking the truth.  He had to lean against the door for support.  “It canna be so bad as you think,” she cried in pity.  “If you’re sure Corp said he saw her, she maun hae gone to the doctor’s house.”

“She is not there.  But Elspeth knew she had come back.  Others have seen her besides Corp.  My God, Gavinia! what can have happened?”

In little more than an hour he knew what had happened.  Many besides himself, David among them towards the end, were engaged in the search.  And strange stories began to fly about like night-birds; you will not search for a missing woman without rousing them.  Why had she gone off to London without telling anyone?  Had Corp concocted that story about her father to blind them?  Had she really been as far as London?  Have you seen Sandys?—­he’s back.  It’s said Corp telegraphed to him to Switzerland that she had disappeared.  It’s weel kent Corp telegraphed.  Sandys came at once.  He is in a terrible state.  Look how white he is aneath that lamp.  What garred them telegraph for