"Oh I forgot, dear; I must not take you to our house. We have had new orders. But where do you live? I will bring you my little bag to-morrow. They won’t let me out again to-night. Now I know you will oblige me. I am so sorry that I mustn’t see you safe home, dear." This she said with the finest air of protection imaginable. I gave her my name and address, and asked for hers. "My name is Isola Ross, I am seventeen and a half, and my papa is Professor at the College. I ran away from old Cora. It seemed such fun to be all alone in the fog. What trouble I shall get into! But they can’t be angry with me long. Kiss me, darling. Mind, to-morrow!" Off she danced through the fog; and I went sadly home, yet thinking more of her, than of my serious and vexatious loss. CHAPTER XII. Inspector Cutting, upon the first tidings of the robbery, came at once, and assured me that he knew the "party" well, and wanted her for several other plants, and crafty as she was ("leary" was the elegant word he used) he was sure to be down upon her in the course of a very short time. Isola Ross, to my great surprise, did not come the next day, nor even the day after; so I set out to look for her, at the same time wondering at myself for doing so. Knowing that College Street must take its name from some academic building in or near it, I concluded of course that there I should find Professor Ross and my lovely new friend. So without consulting Mrs. Shelfer, who would have chattered for an hour, away I went one tine frosty morning to ask about the College. I found that a low unsightly building, which I had often passed, near the bottom of the street, was the only College there; so I entered a small quadrangle, to make further inquiries. The first person I saw was a young man dressed like one of my father’s grooms, and cracking a long whip and whistling. He had a brilliant scarlet neckcloth, green sporting coat, and black boots up to his knees. I studied him for a moment because it struck me that he would look well in a foreground, when toned down a little, as water colours would render him. He appreciated my attention, and seemed proud of it. "Now, Polly, what can I do for you, dear?" He must have been three parts drunk, or he would never have dared to address me so. Of course I made no answer, but walked on. He cracked his whip like a pistol, to startle me. "Splendid filly," I heard him mutter, "but cussed high action." What he meant I do not know or care. The next I met was a fussy little man, dressed all in brown, who smelt of musty hay. "Will you kindly tell me," I asked, "where to find Professor Ross?’ "Ross, Ross! Don’t know the name. No Ross about here. What’s he Professor of?" "That I was not told. But it is something the young ladies study." "No young ladies about here. But I see you have brought your dear mamma’s lapdog. Take it out of the bag. Let me look at it."