Part 14 (2/2)

”Well, ma'am,” said Mary in an unsteady voice, ”because she isn't in her bed”

Mrs Orban sprang to her feet

”Not in her bed?” she exclai Peter down on the ground, she turned swiftly and left the room

”I just went in to turn down the beds,” explained Mary to the twins as they hurriedly followed, ”and went over to Miss Becky's corner to take a look at her, and she wasn't there I didn't stop a ht off to see if ht have knocked me doith a feather when I saw she wasn't”

Mrs Orban rushed to Becky's bed She was standing beside it as if petrified when the others entered The bed was empty This was no dream Becky really and truly was not there

CHAPTER VIII

THE WITCH

Of course Peter's story jumped to every one's mind, and with a horrified cry Mrs Orban fell forward, fainting, on to the eh the house had been, as Eustace guessed, a greater strain than she had allowed any one to see; she could not be certain that they were on a wild-goose chase This, co on the top of it, was just toostolen had froe--stories of little ones silently, ain The twins had heard the sa stories This last terrible event seemed just to prove that the first visitor had been noof a baby washer hands and wept Eustace dashed away to fetch Robertson Mary lost her head co to restore poor Mrs Orban to consciousness till motherly little Mrs Robertson appeared on the scene

Robertson stood in thethe picture of bewilder,” he said in an awed voice

Every one was really too terrified to ed, questions whispered, and Robertson said again,--

”This beats everything! It doesn't seem possible, unless she has been spirited away; for how could any one passthem?”

”Could he have swarmed one of the posts?” Eustace asked

”I shouldn't say he could,” Robertson replied, ”but it looks as if he did How could achild in his arms?”

”Black-fellows are dreadfully clever,” said Kate

”Hush,” said Mrs Robertson, ”the poor lady is co like that Oh dear, hoill she bear it?”

The poor woh what a s would be under such awful circumstances

”Every corner of the house was searched,” said Robertson meditatively