"The servants did not scruple to declare that their young lady had been spirited away, and they so threatened the French waiting-woman that she was glad to take refuge in her mistress' apartment. There had been a terrible scene between Lord Bulmer and Lady Leighton when it was at last made certain that Amabel was neither at Highbeck nor at the Little House. He accused Lady Leighton of playing him false and conniving at the young lady's escape, and she wept and declared her innocence and begged him to have pity on her; but he at last, flung away from her, leaving her grovelling on the ground, mounted his horse, and followed by his servants, rode away to Newcastle." This was Wilson's account. How she gained her knowledge I don't know, but she was not likely to lack any which could be got by eavesdropping or peeping through key-holes. "My lady was very ill for two or three days, and Wilson waited on her, the other woman not daring to come in the way of her fellow servants. At last Lady Leighton received a letter which seemed to calm her spirits a little, and she told Wilson in the evening to go to bed and leave her, as she felt like having a quiet night. At about two o'clock, Wilson was awakened by the smoke and heat, and hurrying down found her lady's room wrapped in flames. She searched it at the risk of her life, and at the expense of some terrible burns, but could find nothing of her mistress. The servants and such men as were left about the place worked like heroes, and Mr. Lethbridge specially distinguished himself by his coolness and daring, but a high wind was blowing and the flames defied all their efforts. The servants all escaped except the French woman, who, like her mistress, could not be found. No bodies had been discovered, but the east wing had fallen in, and they might be buried under the ruins." "I cannot help thinking there may be another solution of the matter," Mrs. Deborah wrote in a private note to me; "but I have never hinted at such a thing to my brother in the letters I have sent him, nor have I mentioned it to Wilson, who, poor creature, is about distracted with grief for her mistress, for whom she risked her life. She rushed into the building again and again, and Mr. Lethbridge hardly rescued her just before the walls fell in. The silver, the family paper-chest, and some few other things, were saved by Richard and the other men. A part of the west wing is all that is left of Highbeck."