A convulsive shudder shook him. I saw how near he was to breaking down. "Let me tell the rest, Burr," said a low voice from the door, and I turned to see a woman standing there--a woman dressed in black, with a face of unusual sweetness, but shadowed by a great sorrow. CHAPTER IV A Strange Message I guessed in a breath who she was, and my heart went out to her in instant pity. Yet a second glance told me that it was not the shadow of this recent sorrow which lay across her face. Time alone could grave those lines of calm endurance, could give to the eyes that look of quiet resignation, to the mouth that curve of patient suffering; and only a deep spiritual faith could preserve and heighten the sweetness and gentleness of a countenance so marked. "This is Mr. Lester, Mrs. Lawrence," said our junior, quickly, and placed a chair for her. "We've asked Mr. Lester to help us," he added. She closed the door behind her and came forward as we rose, acknowledging the introduction with the faintest of bows. "Thank you," she said. "Lucy told me you had returned, Mr. Royce," she went on, a little tremulously, "and I was anxious to know if you had any news." "Not yet. Mr. Curtiss was just telling Mr. Lester----" "Yes," she interrupted, "I saw how he was suffering and I wished to spare him, if I could." "My dear Mrs. Lawrence," broke in Curtiss, "you must think only of sparing yourself." "Still," I suggested, "it's possible that Mrs. Lawrence can help us a great deal, if she will." She was holding herself admirably in hand, and I thought her in much less danger of breaking down than Curtiss himself. Perhaps the old sorrow had taught her how to bear the new one. "I shall be glad to help you all I can," she said, and smiled a faint encouragement. It seemed brutal to question her at such a time, but I saw it must be done and I nerved myself to do it. "Mrs. Lawrence," I began, "has any possible explanation of your daughter's flight occurred to you?" "No," she answered quickly, and with an emphasis that rather startled me. "It seems to me utterly unexplainable. Even yet, I can scarcely believe it!" "She left no message for you?" "Not a word; she simply disappeared." "And you had no warning?" "Warning?" she repeated, facing around upon me. "No!" "Nor suspected that there was anything amiss?" "Not for an instant." "Since there _was_ something amiss, why did your daughter not confide in you?" "I have asked myself the same question. I am utterly unable to answer it." "She was in the habit of coming to you with her troubles?" "Always. There was the most perfect confidence between us." "And yet she concealed this?" "She did not conceal it!" she protested. "She could not have concealed it from my eyes, even had she wished to. There was nothing to conceal. There was absolutely nothing wrong the last time I saw her." "And that was?" "Only a few minutes before she disappeared."