"It's quite safe, you need not feel for it," said Jack gravely. "The fact is, he jumped out of the window." "Oh, but I hope, I do hope you are mistaken," said Miss Cartwright in great perturbation. "I have always felt so safe when we have got him upstairs; it really will be serious if this is no restraint. Because, even if the windows were closed"--she stopped and looked doubtfully at Cartouche, who presented an aspect of complete indifference. "He would go through them--not a doubt of it." "My dear boy, don't say such dreadful things! But then, what can we do? Never mind, I dare say he will not be naughty again," she went on, bringing her unlimited hopefulness to bear; "besides, it was owing to your coming so unexpectedly, and you have explained nothing as yet. I shall just go and see Winter, and tell her to get everything ready for you, and then I shall come back, and hear all that you have been doing." Left to himself, Ibbetson sat down on a garden bench, and with his head sunk between his shoulders, his long legs stretched stiffly out, and his hands disposed of in his pockets, fell into a reverie, which, to judge from his looks, was not of an altogether agreeable nature. So absorbed by it was he, that Cartouche, tired of a short-lived goodness, went off to relieve his spirits by bullying the cat of the household, an animal which, having been always distinguished for a singularly placid disposition, was now rapidly acquiring the characteristics of a vixen, goaded thereto by a good-humoured but unceasing persecution. What with barks and spittings, there was noise enough to disturb a less profound meditation, but when Miss Cartwright at length came hurrying out, her nephew kept the same attitude, and was unaware of her approach. Thinking that he was asleep, she stood looking at him with a tender wistfulness in her soft eyes; for now that his face was in repose she noticed a tired and grave expression which she fancied should not have been there. It was not a handsome face, for there was a greater squareness than is considered consistent with good looks, and the mouth was large. But his eyes were grey and honest, and all the features gave you a pleasant impression of openness and health which in itself was a strong attraction to less partial observers than his aunt. Nor was the partiality itself wonderful, when it was considered that she had acted as mother to Jack since the time when his own mother had died, a time so long ago that he was too small to know anything about it--or so they decided. When it happened, Miss Cartwright went to live with her brother-in-law, and to bring up Jack.