“Good heaven!” cried Madame Du Pont, “this is very strange:”  and turning pale with terror, she went hastily to the door, and ordered it to be forced open.  The apartment instantly discovered, that no person had been in it the preceding night, the beds appearing as though just made.  The house was instantly a scene of confusion:  the garden, the pleasure grounds were searched to no purpose, every apartment rang with the names of Miss Temple and Mademoiselle; but they were too distant to hear; and every face wore the marks of disappointment.

Mr. Eldridge was sitting in the parlour, eagerly expecting his grand-daughter to descend, ready equipped for her journey:  he heard the confusion that reigned in the house; he heard the name of Charlotte frequently repeated.  “What can be the matter?” said he, rising and opening the door:  “I fear some accident has befallen my dear girl.”

The governess entered.  The visible agitation of her countenance discovered that something extraordinary had happened.

“Where is Charlotte?” said he, “Why does not my child come to welcome her doating parent?”

“Be composed, my dear Sir,” said Madame Du Pont, “do not frighten yourself unnecessarily.  She is not in the house at present; but as Mademoiselle is undoubtedly with her, she will speedily return in safety; and I hope they will both be able to account for this unseasonable absence in such a manner as shall remove our present uneasiness.”

“Madam,” cried the old man, with an angry look, “has my child been accustomed to go out without leave, with no other company or protector than that French woman.  Pardon me, Madam, I mean no reflections on your country, but I never did like Mademoiselle La Rue; I think she was a very improper person to be entrusted with the care of such a girl as Charlotte Temple, or to be suffered to take her from under your immediate protection.”

“You wrong me, Mr. Eldridge,” replied she, “if you suppose I have ever permitted your grand-daughter to go out unless with the other ladies.  I would to heaven I could form any probable conjecture concerning her absence this morning, but it is a mystery which her return can alone unravel.”  Servants were now dispatched to every place where there was the least hope of hearing any tidings of the fugitives, but in vain.  Dreadful were the hours of horrid suspense which Mr. Eldridge passed till twelve o’clock, when that suspense was reduced to a shocking certainty, and every spark of hope which till then they had indulged, was in a moment extinguished.

Mr. Eldridge was preparing, with a heavy heart, to return to his anxiously-expecting children, when Madame Du Pont received the following note without either name or date.

“Miss Temple is well, and wishes to relieve the anxiety of her parents, by letting them know she has voluntarily put herself under the protection of a man whose future study shall be to make her happy.  Pursuit is needless; the measures taken to avoid discovery are too effectual to be eluded.  When she thinks her friends are reconciled to this precipitate step, they may perhaps be informed of her place of residence.  Mademoiselle is with her.”