"Stop her! Hold her! I'm sure she has gone mad. Lock the door, or she'll come back and murder us all." "Who? Elizabeth! Was she here? What has been the matter?" But it was some time before they could make out any thing. At last they gathered that Elizabeth had been waiting upon Miss Selina, putting vinegar cloths on her head, and doing various things about the room. "She is very handy when one is ill." even Selina allowed. "And I assure you I was talking most kindly to her; about the duties of her position, and how she ought to dress better, and be more civil behaved, or else she never could except to keep any place. And she stood in her usual sulky way of listening, never answering a word--with her back to me, staring right out of window. And I had just said, Elizabeth, my girl'--indeed, Hilary, I was talking to her in my very kindest way--" "I've no doubt of it--but do get on." "When she suddenly turned round, snatched a clean towel from a chair back, and another from my head--actually from my very head, Johanna--and out she ran. I called after her, but she took no more notice than if I had been a stone. And she left the door wide open--blowing upon me. Oh, dear; she has given me my death of cold." And Selina broke out into piteous complainings. Her elder sister soothed her as well as she could, while Hilary ran down to the front door and looked, and enquired every where for Elizabeth. She was not to be seen on field or road; and along that quiet terrace not a soul had even perceived her quit the house. "It's a very odd thing." said Hilary, returning. "What can have come over the girl? You are sure, Selina, that you said nothing which--" "Now I know what you are going to say, You are going to blame me. Whatever happens in this house you always blame me. And perhaps you're right. Perhaps I am a nuisance--a burden--would be far better dead and buried. I wish I were!" When Selina took this tack, of course her sisters were silenced. They quited her a little, and then went down and searched the house all over. All was in order; at least in as much order as was to be expected the hour before dinner. The bowl of half-peeled potatoes stood on the back kitchen "sink;" the roast was down before the fire; the knives were ready for cleaning. Evidently Elizabeth flight had not been premeditated. "It's all nonsense about her going mad. She has as sound a head as I have," said Hilary to Johanna, who began to look seriously uneasy. "She might have run away in a fit of passion, certainly; and yet that is improbable; her temper is more sullen than furious. And having no lack of common sense she must know that doing a thing like this is enough to make her lose her place at once." "Yes," said Johanna, mournfully, "I'm afraid after this she must go." "Wait and see what she has to say for herself." pleaded Hilary. "She will surely be back in two or three minutes." But she was not, nor even in two or three hours.