At the usual hour, Mrs Prothero came down to breakfast; no Gladys was visible, and no neat table was laid for the early meal.  Mrs Prothero asked the servants if they had seen Gladys, and they said she had not yet come down; not altogether ill-pleased to find the favourite, for once, in fault.  Mrs Prothero thought that the events of the past night had probably made her ill; and relenting from her somewhat severe feelings towards her, she went upstairs to see what was the matter.  Receiving no answer to her tap at the door, and call of ‘Gladys,’ she went into her little room.  She saw all neat as usual, and the bed unruffled.  Her heart misgave her, and she painfully remembered the morning of Netta’s flight.  As if by instinct she went to the small dressing-table, and at once had her fears confirmed.  Very sadly she took up the pretty cap that was left there, and looked at the large piece of netting to which was appended a paper.  She unpinned the paper, and read the following words:—­’For my dear mistress, with respectful wishes, and best prayers for many happy returns of the day.’

Mrs Prothero unfolded the work slowly, and saw two handsome, long, netted window curtains, with a fancy border, that must have taken hours from the donor’s sleep to accomplish.  As she unfolded them, a letter fell upon the floor.

Poor, nervous Mrs Prothero, rubbed her hands over one another several times before she had the courage to pick it up, and then she scarcely dared to open it.  As she made the attempt, however, a cry of ’Mother! mother! why isn’t my breakfast ready?’ was heard from the foot of the stairs, proceeding from Mr Prothero’s lusty voice, who was too proud and too angry to call for Gladys.

Mrs Prothero ran downstairs with the letter in her hand.

‘My dear David, I am afraid Gladys is gone,’ she said tremblingly.

‘Well, let her go,’ said the farmer.  ’A good riddance.  But what do you mean?’

Mrs Prothero told of the empty room, unused bed, cap, curtains, and letter.

‘This house is bewitched!’ said Mr Prothero.  ‘What’s in the letter?’

‘Indeed, I don’t know, Davy bach!’ said the wife, giving him the document.

Mr Prothero took out his glasses, wiped them deliberately, and put them on, whilst his wife stood before him rubbing her poor little hands as usual.

‘What a good hand the girl writes,’ said Mr Prothero, as he carefully unfolded the letter, and then began to read aloud as follows:—­

’DEAR AND HONOURED MISTRESS,—­Before leaving for ever your blessed home, I beg you will allow me to write you a few lines, and I hope you will not think me too bold in so doing.  I am going away, because I would not cause trouble to you, or my good, kind master.  May it please God to bless you both for ever and ever!  As long as I live I shall pray for you and love you!  If I am too bold, forgive me, but my heart is full.  I can only thank you for all you have done for me, by my prayers!  Farewell! my dear, kind, honoured mistress and master.  You will be rewarded in this world for your care of the poor orphan, who prays to meet you in the next.—­GLADYS.’

It was evident that the writer had been obliged to conclude hastily, because her paper was so wet with tears that she could write no more.