"Very sorry," replied Frances sincerely enough. What could she be going away for? but anxious as Frances was, she disdained to ask the children, but sat down and awaited quietly Miss Neville's coming. Amy went on steadily with her packing, which, with Mary's help, was soon finished, and then went down to the library to look at the "Bradshaw," and find out which was the very earliest train by which she could start on the morrow. But it was not on the table. She turned over the books one by one, removed the inkstand and papers, but her search was fruitless. It was gone. As she stood undecided what to do next, Robert Vavasour came forward; she had not noticed him in the dim uncertain twilight. "Can I assist you, Miss Neville?" he asked. "What is it you look for?" "I was looking for the 'Bradshaw,' which is usually kept on this table; but it is gone." "It is here," he replied, taking it off a chair, where it had been hastily left by Mr. Linchmore in the morning. "Allow me to find out what you wish, this book is a puzzle to most people." Amy explained her wishes. "You are going away?" he asked. "Yes; but only for a short time, a fortnight at the furthest." "It is a long time--to me," he said, gently; then lit the taper, and busied himself with pen, ink, and paper, and the 'Bradshaw;' while Amy stood by, wishing she had not come down, but had sent Mary, or one of the children instead. After dotting down the times of the trains as they arrived and left the different stations, he closed the book; still he did not look up, or give her the memorandum. "Thank you," said Amy, "that will do very nicely." "You cannot leave the Standale station before the 9.10 train," he said presently, "that is express, and will take you with less delays on the road than any other, and will only detain you some twenty minutes or so, when you join the ordinary train. I will write this time table out better and more clearly for you, and let you have it before you start." "Do not take that trouble. What you have written will be quite guide enough for me. Good-bye, Mr. Vavasour," and she held out her hand. He hesitated a moment, then took it in both his, and held it fast.