Isabella was in high spirits, and began to talk, with considerable volubility, to Mad. de Rosier about the opera. Mrs. Harcourt was full of apologies about the coach; and Matilda rather anxious to discover what it was that had made a change in her mother's manner towards Mad. de Rosier. Grace, glad to see that they were all intent upon their own affairs, lighted their candles expeditiously, and stood waiting, in hopes that they would immediately leave the room, and that she should be able to release her prisoner. Favoretta usually slept in a little closet within Mrs. Grace's room, so that she foresaw no difficulty in getting her to bed. "I heard!--did not _you_ hear a noise, Isabella?" said Matilda. "A noise!--No; where?" said Isabella, and went on talking alternately to her mother and Mad. de Rosier, whom she held fast, though they seemed somewhat inclined to retire to rest. "Indeed," said Matilda, "I did hear a noise in that closet." "Oh dear, Miss Matilda," cried Grace, getting between Matilda and the closet, "it's nothing in life but a mouse." "A mouse, where?" said Mrs. Harcourt. "Nowhere, ma'am," said Grace; "only Miss Matilda was hearing noises, and I said they must be mice." "There, mamma! there! that was not a mouse, surely!" said Matilda. "It was a noise louder, certainly, than any mouse could make." "Grace is frightened," said Isabella, laughing. Grace, indeed, looked pale and terribly frightened. Mad. de Rosier took a candle, and walked directly to the closet. "Ring for the men," said Mrs. Harcourt. Matilda held back Mad. de Rosier; and Isabella, whose head was now just recovered from the opera, rang the bell with considerable energy. "Dear Miss Isabella, don't ring so;--dear ma'am, don't be frightened, and I'll tell you the whole truth, ma'am," said Grace to her mistress; "it's nothing in the world to frighten any body--it's only Miss Favoretta, ma'am." "Favoretta!" exclaimed every body at once, except Mad. de Rosier, who instantly opened the closet door, but no Favoretta appeared. "Favoretta is not here," said Mad. de Rosier. "Then I'm undone!" exclaimed Grace; "she must have got out upon the leads." The leads were, at this place, narrow, and very dangerous. "Don't scream, or the child is lost," said Mad. de Rosier. Mrs. Harcourt sank down into an arm-chair. Mad. de Rosier stopped Isabella, who pressed into the closet. "Don't speak, Isabella--Grace, go into the closet--call Favoretta--hear me, quietly," said Mad. de Rosier, steadily, for Mrs. Grace was in such confusion of mind, that she was going to call upon the child, without waiting to hear what was said to her.--"Hear me," said Mad. de Rosier, "or _you are_ undone--go into the closet without making any bustle--call Favoretta, gently; she will not be frightened, when she hears only your voice."