Henrietta hung back, but her arm was linked in Agatha’s, and she was drawn along in spite of herself.  Smilash did not move.  Agatha strolled on coolly, and as she passed him, adroitly caught the apron between her finger and thumb and twitched it from his face.  Instantly Henrietta uttered a piercing scream, and Smilash caught her in his arms.

“Quick,” he said to Agatha, “she is fainting.  Run for some water.  Run!” And he bent over Henrietta, who clung to him frantically.  Agatha, bewildered by the effect of her practical joke, hesitated a moment, and then ran to the lawn.

“What is the matter?” said Fairholme.

“Nothing.  I want some water—­quick, please.  Henrietta has fainted in the shrubbery, that is all.”

“Please do not stir,” said Miss Wilson authoritatively, “you will crowd the path and delay useful assistance.  Miss Ward, kindly get some water and bring it to us.  Agatha, come with me and point out where Mrs. Trefusis is.  You may come too, Miss Carpenter; you are so strong.  The rest will please remain where they are.”

Followed by the two girls, she hurried into the shrubbery, where Mr. Jansenius was already looking anxiously for his daughter.  He was the only person they found there.  Smilash and Henrietta were gone.

At first the seekers, merely puzzled, did nothing but question Agatha incredulously as to the exact spot on which Henrietta had fallen.  But Mr. Jansenius soon made them understand that the position of a lady in the hands of a half-witted laborer was one of danger.  His agitation infected them, and when Agatha endeavored to reassure him by declaring that Smilash was a disguised gentleman, Miss Wilson, supposing this to be a mere repetition of her former idle conjecture, told her sharply to hold her tongue, as the time was not one for talking nonsense.  The news now spread through the whole company, and the excitement became intense.  Fairholme shouted for volunteers to make up a searching party.  All the men present responded, and they were about to rush to the college gates in a body when it Occurred to the cooler among them that they had better divide into several parties, in order that search might be made at once in different quarters.  Ten minutes of confusion followed.  Mr. Jansenius started several times in quest of Henrietta, and, when he had gone a few steps, returned and begged that no more time should be wasted.  Josephs, whose faith was simple, retired to pray, and did good, as far as it went, by withdrawing one voice from the din of plans, objections, and suggestions which the rest were making; each person trying to be heard above the others.

At last Miss Wilson quelled the prevailing anarchy.  Servants were sent to alarm the neighbors and call in the village police.  Detachments were sent in various directions under the command of Fairholme and other energetic spirits.  The girls formed parties among themselves, which were reinforced by male deserters from the previous levies.  Miss Wilson then went indoors and conducted a search through the interior of the college.  Only two persons were left on the tennis ground—­Agatha and Mrs. Jansenius, who had been surprisingly calm throughout.