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of apologizing; he changed countenance; hastily held up the tray
like a shield before his face; and began to walk backward from
her; stumbling presently against Miss Lindsay; who was running to
return a ball。 Without heeding her angry look and curt rebuke; he
half turned; and sidled away into the shrubbery; whence the tray
presently rose into the air; flew across the laurel hedge; and
descended with a peal of stage thunder on the stooped shoulders
of Josephs。 Miss Wilson; after asking the housekeeper with some
asperity why she had allowed that man to interfere in the
attendance; explained to the guests that he was the idiot of the
countryside。 Mr。 Jansenius laughed; and said that he had not seen
the man's face; but that his figure reminded him forcibly of some
one; he could not just then recollect exactly whom。
Smilash; making off through the shrubbery; found the end of his
path blocked by Agatha and a young lady whose appearance alarmed
him more than had that of Mrs。 Jansenius。 He attempted to force
his tray through the hedge; but in vain; the laurel was
impenetrable; and the noise he made attracted the attention of
the approaching couple。 He made no further effort to escape; but
threw his borrowed apron over his head and stood bolt upright
with his back against the bushes。
〃What is that man doing there?〃 said Henrietta; stopping
mistrustfully。
Agatha laughed; and said loudly; so that he might hear: 〃It is
only a harmless madman that Miss Wilson employs。 He is fond of
disguising himself in some silly way and trying to frighten us。
Don't be afraid。 Come on。〃
Henrietta hung back; but her arm was linked in Agatha's; and she
was drawn along in spite of herself。 Smilash did not move。 Agatha
strolled on coolly; and as she passed him; adroitly caught the
apron between her finger and thumb and twitched it from his face。
Instantly Henrietta uttered a piercing scream; and Smilash caught
her in his arms。
〃Quick;〃 he said to Agatha; 〃she is fainting。 Run for some water。
Run!〃 And he bent over Henrietta; who clung to him frantically。
Agatha; bewildered by the effect of her practical joke; hesitated
a moment; and then ran to the lawn。
〃What is the matter?〃 said Fairholme。
〃Nothing。 I want some waterquick; please。 Henrietta has fainted
in the shrubbery; that is all。〃
〃Please do not stir;〃 said Miss Wilson authoritatively; 〃you will
crowd the path and delay useful assistance。 Miss Ward; kindly get
some water and bring it to us。 Agatha; come with me and point out
where Mrs。 Trefusis is。 You may come too; Miss Carpenter; you are
so strong。 The rest will please remain where they are。〃
Followed by the two girls; she hurried into the shrubbery; where
Mr。 Jansenius was already looking anxiously for his daughter。 He
was the only person they found there。 Smilash and Henrietta were
gone。
At first the seekers; merely puzzled; did nothing but question
Agatha incredulously as to the exact spot on which Henrietta had
fallen。 But Mr。 Jansenius soon made them understand that the
position of a lady in the hands of a half…witted laborer was one
of danger。 His agitation infected them; and when Agatha
endeavored to reassure him by declaring that Smilash was a
disguised gentleman; Miss Wilson; supposing this to be a mere
repetition of her former idle conjecture; told her sharply to
hold her tongue; as the time was not one for talking nonsense。
The news now spread through the whole company; and the excitement
became intense。 Fairholme shouted for volunteers to make up a
searching party。 All the men present responded; and they were
about to rush to the college gates in a body when it Occurred to
the cooler among them that they had better divide into several
parties; in order that search might be made at once in different
quarters。 Ten minutes of confusion followed。 Mr。 Jansenius
started several times in quest of Henrietta; and; when he had
gone a few steps; returned and begged that no more time should be
wasted。 Josephs; whose faith was simple; retired to pray; and did
good; as far as it went; by withdrawing one voice from the din of
plans; objections; and suggestions which the rest were making;
each person trying to be heard above the others。
At last Miss Wilson quelled the prevailing anarchy。 Servants were
sent to alarm the neighbors and call in the village police。
Detachments were sent in various directions under the command of
Fairholme and other energetic spirits。 The girls formed parties
among themselves; which were reinforced by male deserters from
the previous levies。 Miss Wilson then went indoors and conducted
a search through the interior of the college。 Only two persons
were left on the tennis groundAgatha and Mrs。 Jansenius; who
had been surprisingly calm throughout。
〃You need not be anxious;〃 said Agatha; who had been standing
aloof since her rebuff by Miss Wilson。 〃I am sure there is no
danger。 It is most extraordinary that they have gone away; but
the man is no more mad than I am; and I know he is a gentleman He
told me so。〃
〃Let us hope for the best;〃 said Mrs。 Jansenius; smoothly。 〃I
think I will sit downI feel so tired。 Thanks。〃 (Agatha had
handed her a chair。) 〃What did you say he told youthis man?〃
Agatha related the circumstances of her acquaintance with
Smilash; adding; at Mrs。 Jansenius's request; a minute
description of his personal appearance。 Mrs。 Jansenius remarked
that it was very singular; and that she was sure Henrietta was
quite safe。 She then partook of claret…cup and sandwiches。
Agatha; though glad to find someone disposed to listen to her;
was puzzled by her aunt's coolness; and was even goaded into
pointing out that though Smilash was not a laborer; it did not
follow that he was an honest man。 But Mrs。 Jansenius only said:
〃Oh; she is safequite safe! At least; of course; I can only
hope so。 We shall have news presently;〃 and took another
sandwich。
The searchers soon began to return; baffled。 A few shepherds; the
only persons in the vicinity; had been asked whether they had
seen a young lady and a laborer。 Some of them had seen a young
woman with a basket of clothes; if that mout be her。 Some thought
that Phil Martin the carrier would see her if anybody would。 None
of them had any positive information to give。
As the afternoon wore on; and party after party returned tired
and unsuccessful; depression replaced excitement; conversation;
no longer tumultuous; was carried on in whispers; and some of the
local visitors slipped away to their homes with a growing
conviction that something unpleasant had happened; and that it
would be as well not to be mixed up in it。 Mr。 Jansenius; though
a few words from his wife had surprised and somewhat calmed him;
was still pitiably restless and uneasy。
At last the police arrived。 At sight of their uniforms excitement
revived; there was a general conviction that something effectual
would be done now。 But the constables were only mortal; and in a
few moments a whisper spread that they were fooled。 They doubted
everything told them; and expressed their contempt for amateur
searching by entering on a fresh investigation; prying with the
greatest care into the least probable places。 Two of them went
off to the chalet to look for Smilash。 Then Fairholme; sunburnt;
perspiring; and dusty; but still energetic; brought back the
exhausted remnant of his party; with a sullen boy; who scowled
defiantly at the police; evidently believing that he was about to
be delivered into their custody。
Fairholme had been everywhere; and; having seen nothing of the
missing pair; had come to the conclusion that they were nowhere。
He had asked everybody for information; and had let them know
that he meant to have it too; if it was to be had。 But it was not
to be had。 The sole resort of his labor was the evidence of the
boy whom he didn't believe。
〃'Im!〃 said the inspector; not quite pleased by Fairholme's zeal;
and yet overborne by it。 〃You're Wickens's boy; ain't you?〃
〃Yes; I am Wickens's boy;〃 said the witness; partly fierce;
partly lachrymose; 〃and I say I seen him; and if anyone sez I
didn't see him; he's a lie。〃
〃Come;〃 said the inspector sharply; 〃give us none of your cheek;
but tell us what you saw; or you'll have to deal with me
afterwards。〃
〃I don't care who I deal with;〃 said the boy; at bay。 〃I can't be
took for seein' him; because there's no lor agin it。 I was in the
gravel pit in the canal meadow〃
〃What business had you there?〃 said the inspector; interrupting。
〃I got leave to be there;〃 said the boy insolently; but
reddening。
〃Who gave you leave?〃 said the inspector; collaring him。 〃Ah;〃 he
added; as the captive burst into tears; 〃I told you you'd have to
deal with me。 Now hold your noise; and remember where you are and
who you're speakin' to; and perhaps I mayn't lock you up this
time。 Tell me what you saw when you were trespassin' in the
meadow。〃
〃I sor a young 'omen and a man。 And I see her kissin' him; and
the gentleman won't believe me。〃
〃You mean you saw him kissing her; more likely。〃
〃No; I don't。 I know wot it is to have a girl kiss you when you
don't want。 And I gev a screech to friken 'em。 And he called m