An hour later Lady Ruxley’s bell rang a furious peal. It had been nearly three hours since Brownie left her. Such a thing had never happened before, and she did not know what to make of it. She was getting so attached to her gentle and lovable companion that she missed her sadly if she were absent an hour. Presently Minnett came in. “Minnett, find Miss Dundas, and ask her to please come to me,” she said, shortly. Minnett retired, was gone another half hour, while the old lady grew furious at the delay, then returned and said Miss Dundas could not be found. She forthwith angrily commanded to go and find Miss Dundas, and not return until she did. Minnett meekly withdrew again, and her ladyship sat another hour, fuming and raging, first against her maid, then at Lady Randal, whom she believed to be at the bottom of it all, to serve some purpose of her own, and lastly her ire turned upon Brownie herself for allowing herself to be detained so long. Finally, her patience completely wearied out, she marched down into the drawing-room, ready to berate the first person she met. Here she found everybody in a great state of excitement over the non-appearance of Miss Dundas. One, two, three hours more passed, and still no light was thrown upon the mystery. Lady Ruxley became nearly distracted, Lady Randal was very much disturbed, while the guests, who had remarked Brownie’s beauty and refinement, began to whisper of an elopement, or something equally romantic. In the midst of the excitement, Viola and Alma appeared upon the scene and, upon being told that Miss Dundas was missing, the former asked what sort of a looking person she was. Sir Charles immediately gave a very accurate description of Brownie, whereupon both girls exclaimed: “Why, that is our Miss Douglas, and we met her only a few hours ago, as she was going out!” Mrs. Coolidge and Isabel were confounded at this speech. They had not thought of such a thing as the girls meeting her, and had fondly hoped they should not be drawn into the matter any more than to wonder, with the other guests, what could have become of her. Everybody gathered around the young girls at once, eager to hear more. “She was with us an hour or more,” Viola further explained, “then she said she must return to the Hall, and the last we saw of her she came this way.” “And who is ‘our Miss Douglas,’ and what connection has she with Lady Ruxley’s companion?” asked Sir Charles, coming forward and looking very grave. “She was our governess until about two months ago, when—when——” Viola stammered, and got very red in the face. Her heart prompted her to stand up loyally for the teacher whom she so dearly loved, but she stood somewhat in awe of her mother, who was regarding her with sternest displeasure, and whose eye she had just caught. Mrs. Coolidge hastened to the rescue.