"I hear 'Melia Jane's step on the stairs; I must have a word with her." He went to the door and called the girl, who entered the room. "I want to ask you a question or two," he said to her. "In answering me do not say a word you are not certain of." "I won't, Mr. Cornwall," said 'Melia Jane. "When you met Miss Phoebe last night did she seem very much agitated?" "Very much, Mr. Cornwall. More nor I can express. She was crying, but she didn't want me to see. She tried to keep her face from me." "You did not attempt to stop her? You asked her no questions?" "Lor', Mr. Cornwall, she didn't give me time to get out a single word! She said what she had got to say, and she ran away like lightning." "Did she wear a veil?" "Yes, Mr. Cornwall, she did. The veil that man as come 'ere this afternoon showed me, and arksed me whether Miss Phoebe wore it last night when she went away. 'Owever he got 'old of it is more than I can guess." "When he asked you whether Miss Phoebe wore the veil, what did you say?" "I sed, yes, she did. And he showed me a brooch, and wanted to git me to say that she wore that last night; but I didn't, because I ain't seen that brooch on Miss Phoebe for a long time." "You could swear," said Fred, eagerly, "that she did not wear a brooch when you saw her last night?" "No, Mr. Cornwall, I couldn't swear that. I could swear I didn't see it--that's all. But I could swear to the veil." Fred bit his lip. "If any man you don't know asks you any further questions about Miss Phoebe, do not answer him." "I won't, Mr. Cornwall; they sha'n't pump me. That feller tried to, but he didn't git very much." "He got enough," thought Fred, and said aloud, "That will do, 'Melia Jane; you can go. And now, Aunt Leth, quite apart from the statement which Mrs. Pamflett gave the reporters, it is proved that Phoebe was at Parksides last night. How did she get there?" "I really can't say, Fred. I think she must have been too late for the last train." "Have you an 'A B C' in the house?" "No." "I must see at what time the last train starts. Do you think she came back to London by the train this morning?" "I don't know, Fred. Poor child! her feet were very much blistered." "Good God! Surely she could not have walked!" He paced the room in great excitement. "About the brooch, Aunt Leth? Can you fix any definite time--any particular day--on which you last saw it in Phoebe's possession?" "No, Fred; but I am sure I haven't seen it for a good many weeks." "That she has not worn it for a good many weeks?" "Not to my knowledge." "You could not swear she has not worn it?" "No." "You could not swear she did not wear it last night?" "No. But it is scarcely likely, with her feelings toward that wretch Mrs. Pamflett, that she would ever wear it after she was turned out of her father's house. What I am saying seems to trouble you." "It does trouble me. I pray that I may be wrong in my impressions, but I fear that dark days are before us."