The main thoroughfares, usually silent and forsaken at this hour, were alive with streams of pedestrians, with groups of argumentative electors, with noisy troops of lads and girls who occasionally amused themselves with throwing mud at some unpopular person, or even breaking a window and rushing off with yells into the darkness of byways. Public-houses were doing a brisk trade, not without pugilism for the entertainment of such as lounged about the doors. For these sights and sounds Mrs. Wade had no attention, but frequently her ear was smitten with the name "Quarrier," spoken or roared by partisan or adversary. Her way led her through the open place where stood the Town Hall; here had gathered some hundreds of people, waiting for the result of the poll. As she hurried along the ragged edge of the crowd, a voice from somewhere close at hand checked her. "If you imagine that Quarrier will do more for the people than any other politician, you will find yourselves mistaken. Party politics are no good--no good at all. You working men ought to have the sense to form a party of your own." It was Northway, addressing a cluster of mill-hands, and evidently posing as one of a superior class who deigned to give them disinterested advice. She listened for a minute longer, but heard nothing that could excite her alarm. When she reached the house it was a quarter to ten. This part of the town lay in obscurity and quietness; not a shout sounded in her hearing. Mr. Quarrier had not been at home since early in the afternoon. "He must be found at once," said Mrs. Wade, adding quickly, "I suppose Mrs. Quarrier hasn't come?" The servant gave a surprised negative. "You must please send some one to find Mr. Quarrier, without a moment's delay. I will come in and wait." The coachman happened to be in the kitchen. Mrs. Wade had him summoned, and despatched him for his master. Though her limbs shook with fatigue, she could not remain seated for more than a few minutes at a time; she kept the drawing-room door open, and kept going out to listen. Her suspense lasted for more than half an hour; then at length she heard a cab rattle up the drive, and in another moment Quarrier stood before her. This was the second time within a few days that her face had been of ill omen to him; he frowned an anxious inquiry. "You haven't seen Lilian?" she began. "Seen her?" "She has gone--left the cottage--I can't find her." "Gone? When did she go?" "I have bad news for you. Northway has come back; he called at the cottage about seven o'clock. I didn't let him know Lilian was there, and soon got rid of him; he said he would have to see you again. Lilian was dreadfully agitated, and when I happened to leave the room, she went out--disappeared--I thought she must have come home "---- "What do the servants say?" "They haven't seen her." "But she may have gone to Mary's?"