This was placed up against the window which matched with Kate's at the other end of the house, and at a sign from Wilton, Leigh once more mounted, acting in a mechanical way, as if he were no longer master of his own acts, but completely influenced by his companion. "Window fastened?" cried Wilton. "Yes." "Break it. Mind; don't cut your hand." But as Wilton spoke there was the crash of glass, Leigh thrust in his hand, and unfastened the casement, which he flung open and stepped in, the Squire following. In this case the bed was tumbled from Claud having been lying down outside, but it was evident to his father that he had descended in the ordinary way, after locking his room and placing the key in his pocket, so as to make it seem that he was still in the room. "That will do," said Wilton, gruffly. "We can go down, and it must be by the way we came." He looked at the young doctor as if expecting him to ask some questions, but Leigh did not speak a word, merely drawing back for his companion to descend. "You'll hold your tongue about all this, Mr Leigh?" he said. "Of course, sir," said the young man coldly. "It is no affair of mine." "No, nor anybody else's but mine," cried Wilton, fiercely. Then as soon as he reached the foot of the ladder he gazed fiercely at his two men. "Take that ladder back," he said; "and mind this: if I find that any man I employ has been chattering about this business, I discharge him on the instant.--Thank you, Doctor, for coming. Of course, you will make a charge. The young lady seems to prefer fresh air." Leigh looked at him wildly, and strode rapidly away. "Disappointed at losing his patient," muttered Wilton, as he went in, to find his wife waiting for him with both her trembling hands extended. "Quick!" she cried; "tell me the worst," as she caught his arm. He passed his arm about her waist, and seemed to sweep her into the library, where he closed the door, and pushed her down into an easy chair. "There is no worst," he said, in a low voice. "Now, look here; you must keep your mouth shut, and be as surprised as I am. It's all right. She was only a bit scared yesterday. The boy knew what he was about. The cunning jade has bolted with him." "Gone--Kate?" cried Mrs Wilton. "Yes; Claud was throwing dust in our stupid old eyes. The money won't go out of the family, old girl. They're on the way to be married now, and as for John Garstang--let him do his worst." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ "Pierce, darling, what has happened?" cried Jenny, as her brother entered the room and sank into a chair. "Oh," she cried wildly, as she flew to him to throw her arms about his neck and gazed in his ghastly face, "it was for Kate. Oh, Pierce, don't say she's dead!" "Yes," he said, in a voice full of agony; "dead to me." CHAPTER SIXTEEN. "Dead? Dead to you? Pierce, speak to me," cried Jenny. "What do you mean?"