"I am looking for Maria, sir. I can't think what has come to her to-day, Master Johnny," she added, dropping her voice to a confidential tone. "The girl seems demented: she has been going in and out ever since daylight like a dog in a fair." "If I meet her I will send her home." And in another minute I did meet her. For she was coming out of Daniel Ferrar's yard. I supposed he was at home again. "No," she said, looking more wild, worn, haggard than before; "that's what I have been to ask. I am just out of my senses, sir. He has gone for certain. Gone!" I did not think it. He would not be likely to go away without clothes. "Well, I know he is, Master Johnny; something tells me. I've been all about everywhere. There's a great dread upon me, sir; I never felt anything like it." "Wait until night, Maria; I dare say he will go home then. Your mother is looking out for you; I said if I met you I'd send you in." Mechanically she turned towards the cottage, and I went on. Presently, as I was sitting on a gate watching the sunset, Harriet Roe passed towards the withy walk, and gave me a nod in her free but good-natured way. "Are you going there to look out for the ghosts this evening?" I asked: and I wished not long afterwards I had not said it. "It will soon be dark." "So it will," she said, turning to the red sky in the west. "But I have no time to give to the ghosts to-night." "Have you seen Ferrar to-day?" I cried, an idea occurring to me. "No. And I can't think where he has got to; unless he is off to Worcester. He told me he should have to go there some day this week." She evidently knew nothing about him, and went on her way with another free-and-easy nod. I sat on the gate till the sun had gone down, and then thought it was time to be getting homewards. Close against the yellow barn, the scene of last night's trouble, whom should I come upon but Maria Lease. She was standing still, and turned quickly at the sound of my footsteps. Her face was bright again, but had a puzzled look upon it. "I have just seen him: he has not gone," she said in a happy whisper. "You were right, Master Johnny, and I was wrong." "Where did you see him?" "Here; not a minute ago. I saw him twice. He is angry, very, and will not let me speak to him; both times he got away before I could reach him. He is close by somewhere." I looked round, naturally; but Ferrar was nowhere to be seen. There was nothing to conceal him except the barn, and that was locked up. The account she gave was this--and her face grew puzzled again as she related it.