Louis thought it wisest to despatch Frampton at once to order the carriage to be brought out immediately; and this so far pacified Charlotte, that she could speak comprehensibly on the cause of her alarm.  ‘He is in such a way!’ she began.  ’He went out to the school-examination, I believe, in his cap and gown, this morning; he was gone all day, but just at dusk I heard him slam-to the front door, fit to shake the house down, like he does when he is put out.  I’d a thought nothing of that; but by-and-by I heard him stamping up nnd down the study, like one in a frenzy, and I found his cap and gown lying all of a heap in a corner of the hall.  Then, Mr. Calcott came to call; and when I went into the study, master had his head down on the table, and wouldn’t see no one; he fairly stamped to me to be gone, and bring him no more messages.  Mr. Calcott, he looked so sorry and concerned, and sent in again.  I was to say that he hoped some arrangement might be made, if Mr. Frost would only see him; but master had locked the door, and hallooed out that I was to say he was obliged, but couldn’t see nobody.  So Mr. Calcott was forced to go; and there was poor master.  Not one morsel of dinner has he had.  I knocked, but he would not open, only said he did not want for nothing.  No, not even when ’twas time for Miss Catharine to come down.  She thumped at the door, and called ‘Papa’ so pretty; but he never heeded, except to call out, ‘Take her away!’ Charlotte was crying so much that she could hardly proceed.  ’Then I knew it must be something very melancholy indeed.  But by-and-by he opens the door with a great jerk, and runs right up to the lumber-room.  I saw his face, and ’twas like a corpse, my Lord; and he brings down his portmanteau into his dressing-room, and I hears him pulling out all his drawers.  ‘He’ll be gone!’ I thinks, ’he’ll be off to America, too!  And my poor mistress!’ So I went up quietly, and in secret, unbeknown to them all, and got my bonnet; and I’ve run every step of the way—­for you are the only one, my Lord, as can soothe his wounded spirit; and I’ve locked both the doors, and here’s the key, so he can’t be gone till you come.’

‘Locked the doors!’ cried Louis.  ’What have you done?  Suppose your mistress or Miss Clara were ill?’

‘Oh, no—­no, it is not that,’ said Charlotte; ’or why should he flee from the face of his children?  Why, I took Miss Salome up to the top of the stairs, when she was screaming and crying with all her might, and you would not have thought he was within a mile of her.  No, my Lord, no one can’t do nothing but you.’

‘I’ll come at once,’ said Louis.  ’You did quite right to fetch me; but it was a frightful thing to lock the door.’

Sending Charlotte to the housekeeper, he went to communicate her strange intelligence to his father, who shared his dismay so much as almost to wish to come with him to Northwold; but Louis felt he could deal better alone with James.  His fears took the direction of the Italian travellers, knowing that any misfortune to them must recoil on James with double agony after such a parting.