He moved towards the stairs with the words; but ere he reached them there came the sound of a sudden commotion on the corridor above, and a wailing voice made itself heard.

“Miss Isabel!  Miss Isabel!  Wherever are you, mavourneen?  Ah, what’ll I do at all?  Miss Isabel’s gone!”

Old Biddy in her huge white apron and mob cap appeared at the top of the staircase and came hobbling down with skinny hands extended.

“Ah, Master Scott—­Master Scott—­may the saints help us!  She’s gone!  She’s gone!  And meself sleeping like a hog the whole afternoon through!  I’ll never forgive meself, Master Scott,—­never, never!  Oh, what’ll I do?  I pray the Almighty will take my life before any harm comes to her!”

She reached Scott at the foot of the stairs and caught his hand hysterically between her own.

Sir Eustace strode forward, white to the lips.  “Stop your clatter, woman, and answer me!  How did Miss Isabel get away?  Is she dressed?”

The old woman cowered back from the blazing wrath in his eyes.  “Yes, your honour!  No, your honour!  I mean—­Yes, your honour!” she stammered, still clinging pathetically to Scott.  “I was asleep, ye see.  I never knew—­I never knew!”

“How long did you sleep?” demanded Sir Eustace.

“And how am I to tell at all?” wailed Biddy.  “It didn’t seem like five minutes, and I opened me eyes, and she was all quiet in the dark.  And I said to meself, ‘I won’t disturb the dear lamb,’ and I crept into me room and tidied meself, and made a cup o’ tay.  And still she kept so quiet; so I drank me tay and did a bit of work.  And then—­just a minute ago it was—­I crept in and went to her thinking it was time she woke up,—­and—­and—­and she wasn’t there, your honour.  The bed was laid up, and she was gone!  Oh, what’ll I do at all?  What’ll I do?” She burst into wild sobs, and hid her face in her apron.

Two or three people were standing about in the vestibule.  They looked at the agitated group with interest, and in a moment a young man who had just entered came up to Scott.

“I believe I saw your sister in the verandah this afternoon,” he said.

“That’s just what Rose said,” broke in the Colonel.  “And you wouldn’t believe me.  She came out, and Dinah went to speak to her.  And now the two of them are missing.  It’s obvious.  They must have gone off together somewhere.”

“Not up the mountain.  I hope,” the young man said.

“That is probably where they have gone,” Scott said, speaking for the first time.  He was patting Biddy’s shoulder with compassionate kindness.  “Why do you say that?”

“It’s just begun to snow,” the other answered.  “And the mist up the mountain path is thick.”

“Damnation!” exclaimed Sir Eustace furiously.  “And she may have been gone for hours!”

“Miss Bathurst was with her,” said Scott.  “She would keep her head.  I am certain of that.”  He turned to the Colonel who stood fuming by.  “Hadn’t we better organize a search-party sir?  I am afraid that there is not much doubt that they have gone up the mountain.  My sister, you know—­” he flushed a little—­“my sister is not altogether responsible for her actions.  She would not realize the danger.”