As the train neared the station, Harriet’s forgotten smiles began to dimple her face again, and she peered eagerly from the windows of the carriage, as if she expected Ralph Pullen to be on the platform to meet them. But from end to end, she saw only cinders, Flemish country women with huge baskets of fish or poultry on their arms, priests in their _soutanes_ and broad-brimmed hats, and Belgians chattering and screaming to each other and their children, as they crossed the line. Still, she alighted with her party, expectant and happy, and traversed the little distance between the _entrepôt_ and the Hotel, far quicker than the Baroness and her husband could keep up with her. She rushed into the balcony and almost fell into the arms of the _proprietaire_, Madame Lamont. “Ah! Mademoiselle!” she cried, “welcome back to Heyst, but have you heard the desolating news?” “What news?” exclaimed Harriet with staring eyes and a blanched cheek. “Why! that the English lady, _cette Madame, si tranquille, si charmante_, lost her dear _bébé_ the very day that Mademoiselle and Madame la Baronne left the Hotel!” “Lost,” repeated Harriet, “do you mean that the child is _dead_?” “Ah! yes, I do indeed,” replied Madame Lamont, “the dear _bébé_ was taken with a fit whilst they were all at dinner, and never recovered again. _C’était une perte irréparable!_ Madame was like a creature distracted whilst she remained here!” “Where is she then? Where has she gone?” cried Harriet, excitedly. “Ah! that I cannot tell Mademoiselle. The dear _bébé_ was taken away to England to be buried. Madame Pullen and Mademoiselle Leyton and Monsieur Phillippe and _le beau Capitaine_ all left Heyst on the following day, that is Wednesday, and went to Ostende to take the boat for Dover. I know no more!” “Captain Pullen has gone away--he is not here?” exclaimed Miss Brandt, betraying herself in her disappointment. “Oh! I don’t believe it! It cannot be true! He has gone to Ostende to see them on board the steamer, but he will return--I am sure he will?” Madame Lamont shrugged her shoulders. “Monsieur paid everything before he went and gave _douceurs_ to all the servants--I do not think he has any intention of returning!” At that juncture the Baron and Baroness reached the hotel. Harriet flew to her friend for consolation. “I cannot believe what Madame Lamont says,” she exclaimed; “she declares that they are all gone for good, Mrs. Pullen and Miss Leyton and Captain Pullen and the doctor! They have returned to England. But he is sure to come back, isn’t he? after all his promises to meet us in Brussels! He couldn’t be so mean as to run off to England, without a word, or a line, unless he intended to come back.” She clung to Madame Gobelli with her eyes wide open and her large mouth trembling with agitation, until even the coarse fibre of the Baroness’s propriety made her feel ashamed of the exhibition.