"Yes, dear," she said, meekly. "Are you going to send me away?" "No, I am going to take you away. I cannot bear this life any longer." "Then we leave here?" "Yes, at once." "Have you sold the place?" "Bah! Who could buy it?" "But your patients, Pierce?" "There is another man within two miles. There, don't talk to me." "Won't you confide in me, Pierce?" said Jenny, quickly. "I can't believe that we are going because of what has just happened. You must have heard some news." He frowned, and was silent. "Very well, dear," she said, meekly. "I am glad we are going, for I believe you will try and trace out poor Kate." "A fly will be here at mid-day," he said, without appearing to hear her words, and her eyes flashed, for all told her that she was right and that the sudden departure was not due to the encounter with Claud. But that meeting had sealed his lips in anger, just when he had reached home full of eagerness to confide in his sister that he had at last obtained a slight clew to Kate's whereabouts. For he had been summoned to the village inn to attend a fly-driver, who had been kicked by his horse. The man was a stranger, and the injury was so slight that he was able to drive himself back to his place, miles away. But in the course of conversation, while his leg was being dressed, he had told the Doctor that he once had a curious fare in that village, and he detailed Garstang's proceedings, ending by asking Leigh if he knew who the lady was. CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. "Here! Hi! Hold hard!" Pierce Leigh paid no heed to the hails which reached his ears as he was crossing Bedford Square one morning; but he stopped short and turned angrily when a hand was laid heavily upon his shoulder, to find himself face to face with Claud Wilton, who stood holding out his hand. "I saw you staring up at Uncle Robert's old house, but it's of no use to look there." "What do you mean, sir?" said Leigh sternly. "Get out! You know. Well, aren't you going to shake hands?" There was something so frank and open in the young man's look and manner that Leigh involuntarily raised his hand, and before a flash of recollection could telegraph his second intent it was seized and wrung, vigorously. "That's better, Doctor," cried Claud. "How are you?" "Oh, very well," said Pierce shortly. "Well, you don't look it. No, no, don't give a fellow the cold shoulder like that. I say, I came ever so long ago and called on the new people here, for I thought perhaps she might have been to her old home, but it was only a fancy. No go; she hadn't been there." "You will excuse me, Mr Wilton," said Pierce, coldly; "I am busy this morning--a patient. I wish you good day." "No, you don't. I've had trouble enough to find you, so no cold shoulder, please. It's no good, for I won't lose sight of you now. I say: it was mean to cut away from Northwood like you did."