第1章

"TalkingofsuddendisappearancestheoneyoumentionofHannahinthatLeavenworthcaseofours，isnottheonlyremarkableonewhichhascomeundermydirectnotice。Indeed，Iknowofanotherthatinsomerespects，atleast，surpassesthatinpointsofinterest，andifyouwillpromisenottoinquireintotherealnamesofthepartiesconcerned，astheaffairisasecret，Iwillrelateyoumyexperienceregardingit。"

ThespeakerwasQ，therisingyoungdetective，universallyacknowledgedbyusoftheforceasthemostastutemanformysteriousandunprecedentedcases，theninthebureau，alwaysandofcourseexceptingMr。Gryce；andsuchastatementfromhimcouldnotbutarouseourdeepestcuriosity。Drawingup，then，tothestovearoundwhichweweresittinginlazyenjoymentofoneofthoseoff-hourssodeartoadetective\'sheart，wegavewithalacritytherequiredpromise；andsettlinghimselfbackwiththesatisfiedairofamanwhohasagoodstorytotellthatdoesnotentirelylackcertainpointsredoundingtohisowncredit，hebegan:

IwasoneSundaymorningloiteringatthe——PrecinctStation，whenthedooropenedandarespectable-lookingmiddle-agedwomancamein，whoseagitatedairatonceattractedmyattention。Goinguptoher，I

askedherwhatshewanted。

"Adetective，"shereplied，glancingcautiouslyaboutonthefacesofthevariousmenscatteredthroughtheroom。"Idon\'twishanythingsaidaboutit，butagirldisappearedfromourhouselastnight，and"——shestoppedhere，heremotionseemingtochokeher——"andIwantsomeonetolookherup，"shewentonatlastwiththemostintenseemphasis。

"Agirl?whatkindofagirl；andwhathousedoyoumeanwhenyousayourhouse?"

Shelookedatmekeenlybeforereplying。"Youareayoungman，"saidshe；"isn\'ttheresomeoneheremoreresponsiblethanyourselfthatI

cantalkto?"

IshruggedmyshouldersandbeckonedtoMr。Grycewhowasjustthenpassing。Sheatonceseemedtoputconfidenceinhim。Drawinghimaside，shewhisperedafewloweagerwordswhichIcouldnothear。HelistenednonchalantlyforamomentbutsuddenlymadeamovewhichI

knewindicatedstrongandsurprisedinterest，thoughfromhisface——butyouknowwhatGryce\'sfaceis。Iwasabouttowalkoff，convincedhehadgotholdofsomethinghewouldprefertomanagehimself，whentheSuperintendentcamein。

"WhereisGryce?"askedhe；"tellhimIwanthim。"

Mr。Gryceheardhimandhastenedforward。Ashepassedme，hewhispered，"Takeamanandgowiththiswoman；lookintomattersandsendmewordifyouwantme；Iwillbeherefortwohours。"

Ididnotneedasecondpermission。BeckoningtoHarris，I

reapproachedthewoman。"Wheredoyoucomefrom，"saidI，"Iamtogobackwithyouandinvestigatetheaffairitseems。"

"Didhesayso?"sheasked，pointingtoMr。GrycewhonowstoodwithhisbacktousbusilytalkingwiththeSuperintendent。

Inodded，andsheatoncemovedtowardsthedoor。"IcomefromNo——

SecondAvenue:Mr。Blake\'shouse，"shewhispered，utteringanamesowellknown，IatonceunderstoodMr。Gryce\'smovementofsuddeninterest"Agirl——onewhosewedforus——disappearedlastnightinawaytoalarmusverymuch。Shewastakenfromherroom——"

"Yes，"shecriedvehemently，seeingmylookofsarcasticincredulity，"takenfromherroom；sheneverwentofherownaccord；andshemustbefoundifIspendeverydollarofthepittanceIhavelaidupinthebankagainstmyoldage。"

Hermannerwassointense，hertonesomarkedandherwordssovehement，Iatonceandnaturallyaskedifthegirlwasarelativeofhersthatshefeltherabductionsokeenly。

"No，"shereplied，"notarelative，but，"shewenton，lookingeverywaybutinmyface，"averydearfriend——a——a——protegee，Ithinktheycallit，ofmine；I——I——Shemustbefound，"sheagainreiterated。

Wewerebythistimeinthestreet。

"Nothingmustbesaidaboutit，"shenowwhispered，catchingmebythearm。"Itoldhimso，"noddingbacktothebuildingfromwhichwehadjustissued，"andhepromisedsecrecy。Itcanbedonewithoutfolksknowinganythingaboutit，can\'tit?"

"What?"Iasked。

"Findingthegirl。"

"Well，"saidI，"wecantellyoubetteraboutthatwhenweknowafewmoreofthefacts。Whatisthegirl\'snameandwhatmakesyouthinkshedidn\'tgooutofthehouse-doorofherownaccord?"

"Why，why，everything。Shewasn\'tthepersontodoit；thenthelooksofherroom，and——Theyallgotoutofthewindow，"shecriedsuddenly，"andwentawaybythesidegateinto——Street。"

"They?Whodoyoumeanbythey?"

"Why，whoevertheywerewhocarriedheroff。"

Icouldnotsuppressthe"bah!"thatrosetomylips。Mr。Grycemighthavebeenableto，butIamnotGryce。

"Youdon\'tbelieve，"saidshe，"thatshewascarriedoff?"

"Well，no，"saidI，"notinthesenseyoumean。"

Shegaveanothernodbacktothepolicestationnowablockorsodistant。"Hedid\'ntseemtodoubtitatall。"

Ilaughed。"Didyoutellhimyouthoughtshehadbeentakenoffinthisway?"

"Yes，andhesaid，\'Verylikely。\'Andwellhemight，forIheardthementalkinginherroom，and——"

"Youheardmentalkinginherroom——when?"

"O，itmusthavebeenaslateashalf-pasttwelve。Ihadbeenasleepandthenoisetheymadewhispering，wokeme。"

"Wait，"Isaid，"tellmewhereherroomis，hersandyours。"

"Hersisthethirdstoryback，minethefrontoneonthesamefloor。"

"Whoareyou?"Inowinquired。"WhatpositiondoyouoccupyinMr。

Blake\'shouse?"

"Iamthehousekeeper。"

Mr。Blakewasabachelor。

"Andyouwerewakenedlastnightbyhearingwhisperingwhichseemedtocomefromthisgirl\'sroom。"

"Yes，Iatfirstthoughtitwasthefolksnextdoor，——weoftenhearthemwhentheyareunusuallynoisy，——butsoonIbecameassureditcamefromherroom；andmoreastonishedthanIcouldsay，——Sheisagoodgirl，"shebrokein，suddenlylookingatmewithhotlyindignanteyes，"a——a——asgoodagirlasthiswholecitycanshow；don\'tyoudare，anyofyou，tohintatanythingelseo——"

"Come，come，"Isaidsoothingly，alittleashamedofmytoocommunicativeface，"Ihaven\'tsaidanything，wewilltakeitforgrantedsheisasgoodasgold，goon。"

Thewomanwipedherforeheadwithahandthattrembledlikealeaf。

"WherewasI?"saidshe。"O，Iheardvoicesandwassurprisedandgotupandwenttoherdoor。ThenoiseImadeunlockingmyownmusthavestartledher，forallwasperfectlyquietwhenIgotthere。Iwaitedamoment，thenIturnedtheknobandcalledher:shedidnotreplyandIcalledagain。Thenshecametothedoor，butdidnotunlockit。

\'Whatisit?\'sheasked。\'O，\'saidI，\'IthoughtIheardtalkinghereandIwasfrightened，\'\'Itmusthavebeennextdoor，\'saidshe。I

beggedpardonandwentbacktomyroom。Therewasnomorenoise，butwheninthemorningwebrokeintoherroomandfoundhergone，thewindowopenandsignsofdistressandstrugglearound，IknewIhadnotbeenmistaken；thatthereweremenwithherwhenIwenttoherdoor，andthattheyhadcarriedheroff——"

ThistimeIcouldnotrestrainmyself。

"Didtheydropheroutofthewindow?"Iinquired。

"O，"saidshe，"wearebuildinganextension，andthereisaladderrunninguptothethirdfloor，anditwasbymeansofthattheytookher。"

"Indeed!sheseemsatleasttohavebeenawillingvictim，"I

remarked。

Thewomanclutchedmyarmwithagriplikeiron。"Don\'tyoubelieveit，"gaspedshe，stoppingmeinthestreetwherewewere。"ItellyouifwhatIsayistrue，andtheseburglarsorwhatevertheywere，didcarryheroff，itwasanagonytoher，anawful，awfulthingthatwillkillherifithasnotdonesoalready。Youdon\'tknowwhatyouaretalkingabout，youneversawher——"

"Wasshepretty，"Iasked，hurryingthewomanalong，formorethanonepasser-byhadturnedtheirheadstolookatus。Thequestionseemedinsomewaytogiveherashock。

"Ah，Idon\'tknow，"shemuttered；"somemightnotthinkso，Ialwaysdid；itdependeduponthewayyoulookedather。"

ForthefirsttimeIfeltathrillofanticipationshootthroughmyveins。Why，Icouldnotsay。Hertonewaspeculiar，andshespokeinasortofbroodingwayasthoughshewereweighingsomethinginherownmind；butthenhermannerhadbeenpeculiarthroughout。Whateveritwasthatarousedmysuspicion，Ideterminedhenceforthtokeepaverysharpeyeuponherladyship。Levellingastraightglanceatherface，Iaskedherhowitwasthatshecametobetheonetoinformtheauthoritiesofthegirl\'sdisappearance。

"Doesn\'tMr。Blakeknowanythingaboutit?"

Thefaintestshadowofachangecameintohermanner。"Yes，"saidshe，"Itoldhimatbreakfasttime；butMr。Blakedoesn\'ttakemuchinterestinhisservants；heleavesallsuchmatterstome。"

"Thenhedoesnotknowyouhavecomeforthepolice?"

"No，sir，andO，ifyouwouldbesogoodastokeepitfromhim。Itisnotnecessaryheshouldknow。Ishallletyouinthebackway。Mr。

Blakeisamanwhonevermeddleswithanything，and——"

"WhatdidMr。Blakesaythismorningwhenyoutoldhimthatthisgirl——Bytheway，whatishername?"

"Emily。"

"Thatthisgirl，Emily，haddisappearedduringthenight?"

"Notmuchofanything，sir。Hewassittingatthebreakfasttablereadinghispaper，hemerelylookedup，frownedalittleinanabsent-mindedway，andtoldmeImustmanagetheservants\'affairswithouttroublinghim。"

"Andyouletitdrop?"

"Yessir；Mr。Blakeisnotamantospeaktwiceto。"

IcouldeasilybelievethatfromwhatIhadseenofhiminpublic，forthoughbynomeansaharshlookingman，hehadareservedairwhichifmaintainedinprivatemusthavemadehimverydifficultofapproach。

Wewerenowwithinahalfblockorsooftheold-fashionedmansionregardedbythisscionofNewYork\'saristocracyasoneofthemostdesirableresidencesinthecity；somotioningtothemanwhohadaccompaniedmetotakehisstandinadoorwaynearbyandwatchforthesignalIwouldgivehimincaseIwantedMr。Gryce，Iturnedtothewoman，whowasnowallinaflutter，andaskedherhowsheproposedtogetmeintothehousewithouttheknowledgeofMr。Blake。

"Osir，allyouhavegottodoistofollowmerightupthebackstairs；hewon\'tnotice，orifhedoeswillnotaskanyquestions。"

Andhavingbythistimereachedthebasementdoor，shetookoutakeyfromherpocketandinsertingitinthelock，atonceadmittedusintothedwelling。

AFEWPOINTS

Mrs。Daniels，forthatwashername，tookmeatonceupstairstothethirdstorybackroom。Aswepassedthroughthehalls，Icouldnotbutnoticehowrich，thoughsombreweretheoldfashionedwallsandheavilyfrescoedceilings，sodifferentinstyleandcoloringfromwhatweseenow-a-daysinoursecretpenetrationsintoFifthAvenuemansions。ManyasarethewealthyhousesIhavebeencalledupontoenterinthelineofmyprofession，Ihadnevercrossedthethresholdofsuchanoneasthisbefore，andimperviousasIamtoanyfoolishsentimentalities，Ifeltacertaindegreeofaweatthethoughtofinvadingwithpoliceinvestigation，thishomeofancientKnicker-bockerrespectability。Butonceintheroomofthemissinggirl，everyconsiderationfledsavethatofprofessionalprideandcuriosity。Foralmostatfirstblush，IsawthatwhetherMrs。Danielswascorrectornotinhersurmisesastothemannerofthegirl\'sdisappearance，thefactthatshehaddisappearedwaslikelytoproveanaffairofsomeimportance。For，letmestatethefactsintheorderinwhichInoticedthem。Thefirstthingthatimpressedmewas，thatwhateverMrs。Danielscalledher，thiswasnosewinggirl\'sroomintowhichInowstepped。Plainaswasthefurnitureincomparisonwiththeelaboraterichnessofthewallsandceiling，therewerestillscatteredthroughtheroom，whichwaslargeevenforathirtyfoothouse，articlesofsufficientelegancetomakethesuppositionthatitwastheabodeofanordinaryseamstressopentosuspicion，ifnomore。

Mrs。Daniels，seeingmylookofsurprise，hastenedtoprovidesomeexplanation。"Itistheroomwhichhasalwaysbeendevotedtosewing，"saidshe；"andwhenEmilycame，Ithoughtitwouldbeeasiertoputupabedherethantosendherupstairs。Shewasaverynicegirlanddisarrangednothing。"

Iglancedaroundonthewriting-caselyingopenonasmalltableinthecentreoftheroom，onthevasehalffullofpartlywitheredroses，onthemantel-piece，theShakspeare，andMacaulay\'sHistorylyingonthestandatmyright，thoughtmyownthoughts，butsaidnothing。

"Youfoundthedoorlockedthismorning?"askedI，afteramoment\'sscrutinyoftheroominwhichthreefactshadbecomemanifest:first，thatthegirlhadnotoccupiedthebedthenightbefore；second，thattherehadbeensomesortofstruggleorsurprise，——oneofthecurtainsbeingviolentlytornasifgraspedbyanagitatedhand，tosaynothingofachairlyingupsetonthefloorwithoneofitslegsbroken；third，thatthedeparture，strangeasitmayseem，hadbeenbythewindow。

"Yes，"returnedshe；"butthereisapassagewayleadingfrommyroomtohersanditwasbythatmeansweentered。Therewasachairplacedagainstthedooronthissidebutweeasilypusheditaway。"

Isteppedtothewindowandlookedout。Ah，itwouldnotbesoverydifficultforamantogainthestreetfromthatspotinadarknight，fortheroofofthenewly-erectedextensionwasalmostonalevelwiththewindow。"

"Well，"saidsheanxiously，"couldn\'tshehavebeengotoutthatway?"

"Moredifficultthingshavebeendone，"saidI；andwasabouttostepoutupontheroofwhenIbethoughttoinquireofMrs。Danielsifanyofthegirl\'sclothingwasmissing。

Sheimmediatelyflewtotheclosetsandthencetobureaudrawerswhichsheturnedhastilyover。"No，nothingismissingbutahatandcloakand——"Shepausedconfusedly。

"Andwhat?"Iasked。

"Nothing，"returnedshe，hurriedlyclosingthebureaudrawer；"onlysomelittleknick-knacks。"

"Knick-knacks!"quothI。"Ifshestoppedforknick-knacks，shecouldn\'thavegoneinanyveryunwillingframeofmind。"Andsomewhatdisgusted，Iwasabouttothrowupthewholeaffairandleavetheroom。ButtheindecisioninMrs。Daniels\'ownfacedeterredme。

"Idon\'tunderstandit，"murmuredshe，drawingherhandacrosshereyes。"Idon\'tunderstandit。But，"shewentonwithevenanincreaseinheroldtoneofheart-feltconviction，"nomatterwhetherweunderstanditornot，thecaseisserious；Itellyouso，andshemustbefound。"

Iresolvedtoknowthenatureofthatmust，usedasfewwomeninherpositionwoulduseitevenundercircumstancestoallappearancemoreaggravatedthanthese。

Why，must?"saidI。"Ifthegirlwentofherownaccordassomethingsseemtoshow，whyshouldyou，norelativeasyouacknowledgetakethemattersotoheartastoinsistsheshallbefollowedandbroughtback?"

Sheturnedaway，uneasilytakingupandputtingdownsomelittlemattersonthetablebeforeher。"IsitnotenoughthatIpromisetopayforallexpenseswhichasearchwilloccasion，withoutmybeingforcedtodeclarejustwhyIshouldbewillingtodoso?AmIboundtotellyouIlovethegirl?thatIbelieveshehasbeentakenawaybyfoulmeans，andthattohergreatsufferinganddistress?thatbeingfondofherandbelievingthis，IamconscientiousenoughtoputeverymeansIpossessatthecommandofthosewhowillrecoverher?"

Iwasnotsatisfiedwiththisbutonthatveryaccountfeltmyenthusiasmrevive。

"ButMr。Blake?Surelyheistheonetotakethisinterestifanybody。"

"Ihavebeforesaid，"returnedshe，palinghoweverasshespoke，"thatMr。Blaketakesverylittleinterestinhisservants。"

Icastanotherglanceabouttheroom。"Howlonghaveyoubeeninthishouse?"askedI。

"IwasintheserviceofMr。Blake\'sfatherandhediedayearago。"

"SincewhenyouhaveremainedwithMr。Blakehimself?"

"Yessir。"

"AndthisEmily，whendidshecomehere?"

"Ohitmustbeelevenmonthsorsoago。"

"AnIrishgirl?"

"Ono，American。Sheisnotacommonperson，sir，"

"Whatdoyoumeanbythat?Thatshewaseducated，lady-like，pretty，orwhat?"

"Idon\'tknowwhattosay。Shewaseducated，yes，butnotasyouwouldcallaladyeducated。Yetsheknewagreatmanythingstherestofusdid\'nt。Shelikedtoread，yousee，and——Osir，askthegirlsabouther，IneverknowwhattosaywhenIamquestioned。"

Iscannedthegray-hairedwomanstillmoreintentlythanIhadyetdone。Wasshetheweakcommon-placecreaturesheseemed，orhadshereallysomecauseotherthanappearedforthesehernumerousbreaksandhesitations。

"Wheredidyougetthisgirl?"Iinquired。"Wheredidshelivebeforecominghere?"

"Icannotsay，Ineveraskedhertotalkaboutherself。ShecametomeforworkandIlikedherandtookherwithoutrecommendation。"

"Andshehasservedyouwell?"

"Excellently。"

"Beenoutmuch?Hadanyvisitors?"

Sheshookherhead。"Neverwentoutandneverhadanyvisitors。"

IownIwasnonplussed，"Well，"saidI，"nomoreofthisatpresent。I

mustfirstfindoutifsheleftthishousealoneorincompanywithothers。"AndwithoutfurtherparleyIsteppedoutupontheroofoftheextension。

AsIdidsoIdebatedwithmyselfwhetherthecasewarrantedmeornotinsendingforMr。Gryce。Asyettherewasnothingtoshowthatthegirlhadcometoanyharm。Amereelopementwithorwithoutalovertohelpher，wasnotsuchaseriousmatterthatthewholepoliceforceneedbestirreduponthesubject；andifthewomanhadmoney，asshesaid，readytogivethemanwhoshoulddiscoverthewhereaboutsofthisgirl，whyneedthatmoneybedividedupanymorethanwasnecessary。YetGrycewasnotonetobedalliedwith。Hehadsaid，sendforhimiftheaffairseemedtocallforhisjudgment，andsomehowtheaffairdidpromisetobeatriflecomplicated。IwasyetundeterminedwhenIreachedtheedgeoftheroof。

Itwasadizzydescent，butoncemade，escapefromtheyardbeneathwouldbeeasy。Amancouldtakethatroadwithoutdifficulty；butawoman!BaffledattheideaIturnedthoughtfullyback，whenIbeheldsomethingontheroofbeforemethatcausedmetopauseandaskmyselfifthiswasgoingtoturnouttobeatragedyafterall。Itwasadropofcongealedblood。Furtherontowardsthewindowwasanother，andyes，furtherstill，anotherandanother。Ievenfoundoneupontheverywindowledgeitself。Boundingintotheroom，Isearchedthecarpetforfurthertraces。ItwastheworstoneintheworldtofindanythinguponofthenatureofwhichIwasseeking，beingaconfusedpatternofmingleddrabandred，andinmydifficultyIhadtostoopverylow。

"Whatareyoulookingfor?"criedMrs。Daniels。

Ipointedtothedroponthewindowsill。"Doyouseethat?"Iasked。

Sheutteredanexclamationandbentnearer。"Blood!"criedshe，andstoodstaring，withrapidlypalingcheeksandtremblingform。"Theyhavekilledherandhewillnever——"

AsshedidnotfinishIlookedup。

"Doyouthinkitwasherblood?"shewhisperedinahorrifiedtone。

"Thereiseveryreasontobelieveso，"rejoinedI，pointingtoaspotwhereIhadatlastdiscoverednotonlyonecrimsondropbutmany，scatteredoverthescarcelyredderrosesundermyfeet。

"Ah，itisworsethanIthought，"murmuredshe。"Whatareyougoingtodo?Whatcanwedo?

"Iamgoingtosendforanotherdetective，"returnedI；andsteppingtothewindowItelegraphedatoncetothemanHarristogoforMr。

Gryce。

"TheonewesawattheStation?"

Ibowedassent。

Herfacelostsomethingofitsdrawnexpression。"OIamglad；Hewilldosomething。"

Subduingmyindignationatthisbackthrust，Iemployedmytimeintakingnoteofsuchdetailsashadescapedmypreviousattention。

Theywerenotmany。Theopenwriting-desk——inwhich，howeverIfoundnolettersorwrittendocumentsofanykind，onlyafewsheetsofpaper，withpen，ink，etc。；thebrushandhairpinsscatteredonthebureauasthoughthegirlhadbeeninterruptedwhilearrangingherhair(ifshehadbeeninterrupted)；andtheabsenceofanygreatpileofworksuchasonewouldexpecttoseeinaroomsetapartforsewing，wereallIcoulddiscover。Notmuchtohelpus，incasethiswastoproveanaffairofimportanceasIbegantosuspect。

WithMr。Gryce\'sarrival，however，thingssoonassumedabettershape。

Hecametothebasementdoor，wasusheredinbyyourhumbleservant，hadthewholematterasfarasIhadinvestigatedit，athisfinger-endsinamoment，andwasup-stairsandinthatroombeforeI，whoamcalledthequickestmanintheforceasyouallknow，couldhavetimetodeterminejustwhatdifferencehispresencewouldmaketomeinapecuniarywayineventofMrs。Daniels\'promisesamountingtoanything。Hedidnotremaintherelong，butwhenhecamedownIsawthathisinterestwasinnowiselessened。

"Whatkindofalookinggirlwasthis?"heasked，hurryinguptoMrs。

Danielswhohadwithdrawnintoarecessinthelowerhallwhileallthiswasgoingon。"Describehertome，hair，eyes，complexion，etc。；

youknow。"

"I——I——don\'tknowasIcan，"shestammeredreluctantly，turningveryredintheface。"Iamapooronefornoticing。Iwillcalloneofthegirls，I——"Shewasgonebeforewerealizedshehadnotfinishedhersentence。

"Humph!"brokefromMr。Gryce\'slipsashethoughtfullytookdownavasethatstoodonabracketnearbyandlookedintoit。

Ididnotventureaword。

WhenMrs。Danielscamebackshehadwithheratrim-lookinggirlofprepossessingappearance。

"ThisisFanny，"saidshe；"sheknowsEmilywell，beinginthehabitofwaitingonherattable；shewilltellyouwhatyouwanttohear。

Ihaveexplainedtoher，"shewenton，noddingtowardsMr。Grycewithacomposuresuchasshehadnotbeforedisplayed；"thatyouarelookingforyourniecewhoranawayfromhomesometimeagotogointosomesortofservice。"

"Certainly，ma\'am，"quoththatgentleman，bowingwithmockadmirationtothegas-fixture。Thencarelesslyshiftinghisglancetothecleaning-clothwhichFannyheldratherconspicuouslyinherhand，herepeatedthequestionhehadalreadyputtoMrs。Daniels。

Thegirl，tossingherheadjustatrifle，atoncereplied:

"Oshewasgood-lookingenough，ifthatiswhatyoumean，forthemaslikesagirlwithcheeksaswhiteasthisclothwasaforeIrubbedthespoonswithit。Asforhereyes，theywasblackerthanherhair，whichwastheBlackestIeversee。Shehadnofleshatall，andasforherfigure——"Fannyglanceddownonherownwelldevelopedperson，andgaveashruginexpressiblysuggestive。

"Isthisdescriptiontrue?"Mr。Gryceasked，seeminglyofMrs。

Daniels，thoughhisgazerestedwithcuriousintentnessonthegirl\'sheadwhichwascoveredwithalittlecap。

"Sufficientlyso，"returnedMrs。Danielsinaverylowtone，however。

Thenwithasuddendisplayofenergy，"Emily\'sfigureisnotwhatyouwouldcallplump。Ihaveseenher——"ShebrokeoffasifalittlestartledatherselfandmotionedFannytogo。

"Waitamoment，"interposedMr。Gryceinhissoftway。"Yousaidthegirl\'shairandeyesweredark；weretheydarkerthanyours?"

"O，yessir；"repliedthegirlsimpering，asshesettledtheribbonsonhercap。

"Letmeseeyourhair。"

Shetookoffhercapwithasmile。

"Ha，verypretty，verypretty。Andtheothergirls?YouhaveothergirlsIsuppose?"

"Two，sir；"returnedMrs。Daniels。

"Howabouttheircomplexions?AretheylightertoothanEmily\'s?"