‘There’ll be fine work to-morrow, I expect,’ said Betty, ’when the master comes home, an’ Dawes a-swearin’ as he’ll niver do a stroke o’ work for him again.  It’ll be good fun if he sets the justice on him for cuttin’ him wi’ the whip; the master’ll p’raps get his comb cut for once in his life!’

‘Why, he was in a temper like a fiend this morning,’ said Kitty.  ’I daresay it was along o’ what had happened wi’ the missis.  We shall hev a pretty house wi’ him if she doesn’t come back—­he’ll want to be leatherin’ us, I shouldn’t wonder.  He must hev somethin’ t’ ill-use when he’s in a passion.’

‘I’d tek care he didn’t leather me—­no, not if he was my husban’ ten times o’er; I’d pour hot drippin’ on him sooner.  But the missis hasn’t a sperrit like me.  He’ll mek her come back, you’ll see; he’ll come round her somehow.  There’s no likelihood of her coming hack to-night, though; so I should think we might fasten the doors and go to bed when we like.’

On Sunday morning, however, Kitty’s mind became disturbed by more definite and alarming conjectures about her mistress.  While Betty, encouraged by the prospect of unwonted leisure, was sitting down to continue a letter which had long lain unfinished between the leaves of her Bible, Kitty came running into the kitchen and said,—­’Lor!  Betty, I’m all of a tremble; you might knock me down wi’ a feather.  I’ve just looked into the missis’s wardrobe, an’ there’s both her bonnets.  She must ha’ gone wi’out her bonnet.  An’ then I remember as her night-clothes wasn’t on the bed yisterday mornin’; I thought she’d put ’em away to be washed; but she hedn’t, for I’ve been lookin’.  It’s my belief he’s murdered her, and shut her up i’ that closet as he keeps locked al’ys.  He’s capible on’t.’

‘Lors-ha’-massy, why you’d better run to Mrs. Raynor’s an’ see if she’s there, arter all.  It was p’raps all a lie.’

Mrs. Raynor had returned home to give directions to her little maiden, when Kitty, with the elaborate manifestation of alarm which servants delight in, rushed in without knocking, and, holding her hands on her heart as if the consequences to that organ were likely to be very serious, said,—­’If you please ‘m, is the missis here?’

‘No, Kitty; why are you come to ask?’

’Because ‘m, she’s niver been at home since yesterday mornin’, since afore we was up; an’ we thought somethin’ must ha’ happened to her.’

’No, don’t be frightened, Kitty.  Your mistress is quite safe; I know where she is.  Is your master at home?’

’No ‘m; he went out yesterday mornin’, an’ said he shouldn’t be back afore to-night.’

’Well, Kitty, there’s nothing the matter with your mistress.  You needn’t say anything to any one about her being away from home.  I shall call presently and fetch her gown and bonnet.  She wants them to put on.’

Kitty, perceiving there was a mystery she was not to inquire into, returned to Orchard Street, really glad to know that her mistress was safe, but disappointed nevertheless at being told that she was not to be frightened.  She was soon followed by Mrs. Raynor in quest of the gown and bonnet.  The good mother, on learning that Dempster was not at home, had at once thought that she could gratify Janet’s wish to go to Paddiford Church.