When the shop-woman made this observation Hannah’s pence tumbled down on the counter with a crash.

“Goodness gracious me, ma’am!” she exclaimed, “you don’t mean to tell me that Miss Primrose Mainwaring is at Rosebury?”

“Why, of course, ma’am; why, don’t you know? why you said but now how weak and ill she was.”

“Never mind the paper,” answered Hannah, “and never mind a word I said about anybody; just have the goodness to tell me where I’ll find Miss Primrose.”

“She was staying with Miss Martineau but yesterday and there’s a gentleman come down, too—­a very ’ansome, harristocratic-looking young man, I call him, and for all the world as like our pretty Miss Jasmine as if he was own brother to her—­and they two and Miss Martineau are fairly scouring the place for that poor little tot Miss Daisy, who it seems ’as run away from home.  Why, Hannah—­Hannah Martin, woman! are you daft?”

For Hannah had rushed from the shop while Mrs. Jones was speaking, leaving her neglected paper and two or three pence behind her on the counter.  A few moments later the good soul was knocking at Miss Martineau’s door, and very soon Primrose and Arthur Noel too were in possession of all the facts that Hannah could give them.

“Oh, Hannah! it is so good to think you were the one to save her and find her,” said Primrose, as she kissed her old nurse, and shed some thankful tears.

“You had better come back with me now, Miss Primrose,” said Hannah, “and perhaps the gentleman or Miss Martineau will send a telegraphic message to poor Miss Jasmine.”

But Primrose’s difficulties had not come to an end.  She instantly started to walk across the fields with Hannah; but when Daisy heard she had come she absolutely refused to see her, and cried so piteously, and got into such an excited state, that Primrose felt herself obliged to yield to the child’s caprice, and to keep out of the room.

“I can’t see her, Hannah,” poor little Daisy said.  “Of all people in all the world, I can’t see my own Primrose.  Oh, if only I were well enough to go to Mrs. Ellsworthy, or if only the Prince would come!”

Primrose heard Daisy’s weak little voice through the thin walls of Hannah’s cottage.

“Hannah,” she said, “I know who Daisy means by the Prince.  The Prince is that kind Mr. Noel, who has been helping me to find the little darling.  If he has not gone back to London, for he said he would go back at once after he knew we had found Daisy, he could come to her.  Oh, Hannah,” continued poor Primrose, “I cannot think what has happened to your dear baby, Daisy.  I begin to believe what Mr. Noel has been hinting to me—­that some one has got a secret influence over her.”

“We had better see and find this Mr. Noel at once, miss, now,” said practical Hannah.  “We can think of secret influences and all that sort of thing when we have found the gentleman whom the dear child is pining to see.  If Mr. Noel is still at Rosebury you had better put on your hat, Miss Primrose, and walk across the fields to the village, and bring him back with you.  I’ll stay with Miss Daisy and soothe her the best way I can.  She’s dreadful agitated and very weak and trembling ever since you came in, miss.”