Mrs. Todhetley's face turned white. She looked from one to the other of us in a helpless kind of manner. "Lena said you did," she returned, and her voice seemed to fear its own sound. The Squire talking with Mackintosh about the pony, noticed nothing particular. "Lena did? Oh, ay, I remember. I let Hugh get up at the door and drove him round to the fold-yard gate. I dropped him there." He went in as he spoke: Mrs. Todhetley seemed undecided whether to follow him. Tod had his back against the door-post, listening. "What are you alarmed at?" he asked her, not even attempting to suppress his mocking tone. "Oh, Johnny!" she said, "have _you_ not seen him?" "Yes; and a fine pickle he was in," I answered, telling her about it. "I dare say Hannah has put him to bed for punishment." "But Hannah has not," said Mrs. Todhetley. "She came down at four o'clock to inquire if he had come in." However, thinking that it might possibly turn out to be so, she ran in to ascertain. Tod put his hand on my shoulder, and walked me further off. "Johnny, did Hugh really not go with you?" "Why, of course he did not. Should I deny it if he did?" "Where the dickens can the young idiot have got to?" mused Tod. "Jeffries vowed he saw him go off with you down the field, Johnny." "But I sent him back. I watched him in at the fold-yard gate. You don't suppose I could take him further in that pickle!" Tod laughed a little at the remembrance. Mrs. Todhetley returned, saying Hugh was not to be found anywhere. She looked ready to die. Tod was inwardly enjoying her fright beyond everything: it was better than a play to him. His particularly easy aspect struck her. "Oh, Joseph!" she implored, "if you know where he is, pray tell me." "How should I know?" returned Tod. "I protest on my honour I have not set eyes on him since before luncheon to-day." "_Do_ you know where he is, Tod?" I asked him, as she turned indoors. "No; but I can guess. He's not far off. And I really did think he was with you, Johnny. I suppose I must go and bring him in, now; but I'd give every individual thing my pockets contain if madam had had a few hours' fright of it, instead of a few minutes'."