Early the next morning Mrs. Garnet arose softly, without awaking the general, and thrusting her small feet in wadded slippers, and drawing on her wadded dressing-gown, passed into her daughter’s chamber for the purpose of looking silently upon her while she slept, to see whether she bore the fatigue of the ball well. She went in softly, drew the curtains of the bedstead, and to her surprise, found that it had not been slept in. Her first thought, of course, was that Elsie had remained all night at Point Pleasant. She felt disappointed, and returned immediately to her own chamber, rang for her maid, and proceeded with her morning toilet. Her maid, Milly, entered, bearing on her arm the cloak and hood that Elsie had worn to Point Pleasant, and afterward dropped while being dragged through the passage. Mrs. Garnet gazed at her in fixed astonishment, saying: “Why, where did you get those, Milly? Is it possible that your Miss Elsie has returned so early this morning? Where is she?” “Miss Elsie returned last night, missis, and must have dropped these in the passage, for that is where I found them.” “Returned last night! Her bed has not been occupied! Where is she?” exclaimed Mrs. Garnet, dropping the long mass of golden curls that she had been twisting into a knot, and standing aghast with vague terror. “Where is she? What is the meaning of this? Why do you look so strangely? Oh, my God! what has happened to my child? Speak this moment, Milly! What do you know of it?” “I thought you must a’ known, Miss Ally; marster’s locked her up in the garret.” All the blood of the Chesters rushed to the brow of Alice, and crimsoned it. “Locked Elsie up in the attic!” she exclaimed. Then: “Give me the keys! Where are they? Bring me the keys instantly!” “Please, Miss Ally, marster took the garret key off of the bunch, and put it in his pocket.” “Leave me, Milly. Go! Hasten! Go downstairs! I don’t want you this morning,” said Alice, conscious of having betrayed too much emotion in the presence of her servant. Milly left the room, and Alice hastened, with a flushed brow, and trembling hand, to the big armchair at the head of the bed, over the back of which hung the general’s clothing that he had worn the night before. Alice searched all the pockets of the overcoat in vain. And she took up the dress coat. But while Alice was hunting for the key, the general had risen upon his elbow, and, unseen by her, was watching her motions with a demoniac leer. Alice searched all the pockets of the dress coat, and it was not there. Then she raised the vest, and in the pocket found the key. She seized it eagerly, and was about to fly off with it when a heavy blow felled her to the floor! The key dropped from her hand. General Garnet stooped and repossessed himself of it, and looking at her with a laughing devil in his eye, said: