"Go, Mrs. Murdock, and send the maids to look for her in every place about the castle where she is in the habit of going. And send the men outside to examine the premises. She may be taken with a fit somewhere, and die for want of assistance," said Lady Vincent, in alarm. "And sae she may, me leddy! That is true enough," replied the dame, nodding her head emphatically as she hurried out on this mission. Claudia sat down before her dressing-room fire and tried to wait the issue patiently. To be sure, she thought Katie might be in the stillroom, or the linen closet, or the bathroom, and there could be no reasonable cause of uneasiness. But why, then, did she not come up? Well, she might have been busy in some one of the above- mentioned places; and she might have been waiting until she thought her mistress should have got through breakfast; and perhaps she might come now very soon; might even enter at any moment. Such were the thoughts that coursed through Claudia's brain, as she tried to sit still before her little fire. For more than an hour Claudia waited, and then she impatiently rang the bell. It brought Mrs. Murdock into the room. "Has Katie been found yet?" "Na, me leddy, not a bit of her. The servants are still seeking her." "But this is very strange and alarming." "It just is, me leddy. And I canna but fear that some ill has happened till her, puir soul!" "I will go down and assist in the search," said Lady Vincent, rising anxiously. "Na, me leddy, dinna gang, ye canna do ony good. The lasses are seeking in every nook and cranny in the house; and if she is biding in it they will find her. And the lads hae gone outside to seek in the grounds, whilk same is sune done; for the castle yard and grounds are nae that expansive, as your leddyship kens." "But I cannot sit here, waiting in idleness. It drives me half frantic! Who can say what may not have happened to poor Katie?" "Nae, me leddy, dinna fash yo'sel'! She may e'en just ha' gone her ways over to Banff, or some gait, and may be back sune. I'll gae see if they ha' brought in ony news." "Go, then, Mrs. Murdock, and let me know the instant you hear anything definite," said Claudia, sinking back in her chair. Mrs. Murdock left the room, and another hour of suspense passed. And then, uncalled, the housekeeper came up again, and said: "It is a' in vain, me leddy. The servants have sought everywhere, within and without the castle, and they can na find the auld bodie at a'! And your leddyship's ain footman, Jamie, ha' come fra Banff and brought the morning mail, and he has na seen onything o' his mither on the road." "Good Heavens! but this is strange and very dreadful. Send Jim up to me at once." The housekeeper went to obey. And Jim soon stood in the presence of his mistress. "Any letters from America, Jim?" inquired Lady Vincent anxiously, and for a moment forgetting poor old Katie's unknown fate. "No, my lady, not one. There was no foreign mail to-day."