"Lewis," said Mrs. Catherine, "you are wrong; there is no man in this world--at least, I have never heard name nor fame of him--that did everything he could do in such a space of time; it is a delusion of youth. You have girded yourself for the race, and have run hard for one mile; you think ye have done all. Boy! you are neither footsore, nor weary, nor sick at heart; what ails you to go on? I have known folk struggling hard, that were all the three. Turn back, Lewis Ross, and begin again." "Mrs. Catherine," said Anne, "if Lewis returned, it would excite curiosity; their investigations have aroused attention already. I think it would not be wise. We came to consult you on a plan of mine. Mrs. Catherine, they say, despairing men venture on forlorn hopes often. I am not despairing, I am only useless; but I want Lewis to entrust this forlorn hope to me." "And I," said Lewis, "think it is a very foolish idea; but yet have no reasonable defence to offer against it." Mrs. Catherine looked at Anne earnestly. "Are you able? that you would endeavor this I never doubted--have you strength for it?" "I? I am strong," said Anne, "you know that, Mrs. Catherine. I scarcely know what sickness is." Mrs. Catherine touched, with her fingers, the smooth, clear cheek, which testified the firm and elastic health, both physical and mental, of its owner, and yet was so far removed from robustness. "Anne, I believe you are able; you have my full consent, and God-speed. Mind you, what I have said to Lewis; it's no one trial, or two, or three--time and patience, thought and labor; you must grudge none of them all. Tell me your plan." "Must we submit?" said Lewis. "Anne, is Mrs. Catherine's judgment final? is there no appeal?" "Silence!" said Mrs. Catherine, peremptorily; "who was speaking of appeal or judgment? There is a work to do, Lewis Ross; the thing is to get the fittest workman, and beware how we hinder him of his labor. We have tarried long enough; this is no a time to put further barriers in the road. Child, your plan?" "I propose going to Aberford," said Anne; "taking some trusty person with me, Mrs. Catherine. It is common, I hear, for people to go there, who seek sea air. I shall attract no attention; it does not matter much how long I stay. I can establish myself under the wing of some matron, and so escape the charge of impropriety. Then I shall go about the district, make acquaintance with every one to whom I can have access, and inquire with all zeal and all quietness. While questions from Lewis, and a lawyer-like person, like James Aytoun, might confuse the people, they will speak frankly to me. I will gossip with them, play with their children; get all possible scraps of recollectings and imaginings, and, perhaps, when the heap is winnowed, something worth going for." Mrs. Catherine bent her head gravely, and asked: "When?" "Immediately," said Anne; "at least, I should desire so. We have lost much time already."