The Senator and Philip both started up.  In Laura’s room there were the marks of a confused and hasty departure, drawers half open, little articles strewn on the floor.  The bed had not been disturbed.  Upon inquiry it appeared that Laura had not been at dinner, excusing herself to Mrs. Dilworthy on the plea of a violent headache; that she made a request to the servants that she might not be disturbed.

The Senator was astounded.  Philip thought at once of Col.  Selby.  Could Laura have run away with him?  The Senator thought not.  In fact it could not be.  Gen. Leffenwell, the member from New Orleans, had casually told him at the house last night that Selby and his family went to New York yesterday morning and were to sail for Europe to-day.

Philip had another idea which, he did not mention.  He seized his hat, and saying that he would go and see what he could learn, ran to the lodgings of Harry; whom he had not seen since yesterday afternoon, when he left him to go to the House.

Harry was not in.  He had gone out with a hand-bag before six o’clock yesterday, saying that he had to go to New York, but should return next day.  In Harry’s-room on the table Philip found this note: 

          “Dear Mr. Brierly:—­Can you meet me at the six o’clock train,
          and be my escort to New York?  I have to go about this
          University bill, the vote of an absent member we must have
          here, Senator Dilworthy cannot go. 
                                             Yours, L. H.”

“Confound it,” said Phillip, “the noodle has fallen into her trap.  And she promised she would let him alone.”

He only stopped to send a note to Senator Dilworthy, telling him what he had found, and that he should go at once to New York, and then hastened to the railway station.  He had to wait an hour for a train, and when it did start it seemed to go at a snail’s pace.

Philip was devoured with anxiety.  Where could they, have gone?  What was Laura’s object in taking Harry?  Had the flight anything to do with Selby?  Would Harry be such a fool as to be dragged into some public scandal?

It seemed as if the train would never reach Baltimore.  Then there was a long delay at Havre de Grace.  A hot box had to be cooled at Wilmington.  Would it never get on?  Only in passing around the city of Philadelphia did the train not seem to go slow.  Philip stood upon the platform and watched for the Boltons’ house, fancied he could distinguish its roof among the trees, and wondered how Ruth would feel if she knew he was so near her.