"Lady? What lady?" and Robin looked, as he felt, bewildered by Priscilla's vague statement. "Did someone come here to see the house?" "Not exactly--I don't know what it was all about," replied Priscilla. "But quite a grand lady called an' gave me her card. I saw the name on it--'Lady Maude Blythe'--and she asked to see 'Miss Jocelyn' on business. I asked if it was anything I could do, and she said no. So I called the child in from the garden, and she and the lady had quite a long talk together in the best parlour. Then when the lady went away, Innocent told me that she had wished to buy something from Briar Farm--but that it was not to be sold." Robin listened attentively. "Curious!" he murmured--"very curious! What was the lady's name?" "Lady Maude Blythe," repeated Priscilla, slowly. He took out a note-book and pencil, and wrote it down. "You don't think she came to engage Innocent for some service?" he asked. "Or that Innocent herself had perhaps written to an agency asking for a place, and that this lady had come to see her in consequence?" Such an idea had never occurred to Priscilla's mind, but now it was suggested to her it seemed more than likely. "It might be so," she answered, slowly. "But I can't bear to think the child was playin' a part an' tellin' me things that weren't true just to get away from us. No! Mister Robin! I don't believe that lady had anything to do with her going." "Well, I shall keep the name by me," he said. "And I shall find out where the lady lives, who she is and all about her. For if I don't hear from Innocent, if she doesn't write to us, I'll search the whole world and never rest till I find her!" Priscilla looked at him, pityingly, tears springing again to her eyes. "Aye, you've lost the love o' your heart, my lad! I know that well enough!" she said. "An' it's mighty hard on you! But you must be a man an' turn to work as though nowt had happened. There's the farm--" "Yes, there's the farm," he repeated, absently. "But what do I care for the farm without her! Priscilla, YOU will stay with me?" "Stay with you? Surely I will, Mister Robin! Where should an old woman like me go to at this time o' day!" and Priscilla took his hand and clasped it affectionately. "Don't you fear! My place is in Briar Farm till the Lord makes an end of me! And if the child comes back at any hour of the day or night, she'll find old Priscilla ready to welcome her,--ready an' glad an' thankful to see her pretty face again." Here, unable to control her sobs, she turned away and made a hasty retreat into the kitchen.