"please go up-stairs and look, Harris; they may be playing in the
nursery. I am worried."

Harris shuffled off, and Mrs. Richie, following him to the foot
of the stairs, stood there gripping the newel-post.

"They ain't here," Harris announced from the top landing.

Mrs. Richie sank down on the lowest step.

"Harris!" some one called peremptorily, and she turned to see
Robert Ferguson coming out of the dining-room: "Oh, you're here,
Mrs. Richie? I suppose you are on David's track. I thought Harris
might have some clue. I came down to tell Mrs. Maitland all we
could wring from Elizabeth."

Before she could ask what he meant, Blair's mother joined them.
"I haven't a doubt they are playing in the orchard," she said.

"No, they're not," her superintendent contradicted; "Elizabeth
says they were going to 'travel'; but that's all we could get out
of her."

"'Travel'! Oh, what does she mean?" Mrs. Richie said; "I'm so
frightened!"

"What's the use of being frightened?" Mrs. Maitland asked,
curiously; "it won't bring them back if they are lost, will it?"

Robert Ferguson knocked his glasses off fiercely. "They couldn't