She was aroused by Dr Morgan’s voice.

’So both Coulson and Hepburn have left the shop to your care, Hester.  I want Hepburn, though; his wife is in a very anxious state.  Where is he? can you tell me?’

’Sylvia in an anxious state!  I’ve not seen her to-day, but last night she looked as well as could be.’

’Ay, ay; but many a thing happens in four-and-twenty hours.  Her mother is dying, may be dead by this time; and her husband should be there with her.  Can’t you send for him?’

‘I don’t know where he is,’ said Hester.  ’He went off from here all on a sudden, when there was all the market-folks in t’ shop; I thought he’d maybe gone to John Foster’s about th’ money, for they was paying a deal in.  I’ll send there and inquire.’

No! the messenger brought back word that he had not been seen at their bank all morning.  Further inquiries were made by the anxious Hester, by the doctor, by Coulson; all they could learn was that Phoebe had seen him pass the kitchen window about eleven o’clock, when she was peeling the potatoes for dinner; and two lads playing on the quay-side thought they had seen him among a group of sailors; but these latter, as far as they could be identified, had no knowledge of his appearance among them.

Before night the whole town was excited about his disappearance.  Before night Bell Robson had gone to her long home.  And Sylvia still lay quiet and tearless, apparently more unmoved than any other creature by the events of the day, and the strange vanishing of her husband.

The only thing she seemed to care for was her baby; she held it tight in her arms, and Dr Morgan bade them leave it there, its touch might draw the desired tears into her weary, sleepless eyes, and charm the aching pain out of them.

They were afraid lest she should inquire for her husband, whose non-appearance at such a time of sorrow to his wife must (they thought) seem strange to her.  And night drew on while they were all in this state.  She had gone back to her own room without a word when they had desired her to do so; caressing her child in her arms, and sitting down on the first chair she came to, with a heavy sigh, as if even this slight bodily exertion had been too much for her.  They saw her eyes turn towards the door every time it was opened, and they thought it was with anxious expectation of one who could not be found, though many were seeking for him in all probable places.

When night came some one had to tell her of her husband’s disappearance; and Dr Morgan was the person who undertook this.

He came into her room about nine o’clock; her baby was sleeping in her arms; she herself pale as death, still silent and tearless, though strangely watchful of gestures and sounds, and probably cognizant of more than they imagined.

‘Well, Mrs. Hepburn,’ said he, as cheerfully as he could, ’I should advise your going to bed early; for I fancy your husband won’t come home to-night.  Some journey or other, that perhaps Coulson can explain better than I can, will most likely keep him away till to-morrow.  It’s very unfortunate that he should be away at such a sad time as this, as I’m sure he’ll feel when he returns; but we must make the best of it.’