“I have gone through all our names here,” said Kate; “and except Mr. Massingbred--” “And there's the very one I want,” said the girl, boldly. “Step in here and rest yourself, and I 'll send for him,” said Kate; and with such persuasive courtesy were the words uttered, that almost, as it seemed, against her very will the girl followed her into the studio and sat down. While Mr. Crow proceeded in search of Massingbred, Kate Henderson, resuming brush and palette, returned to her painting; not, however, on the grand canvas of the “Historical,” but dexterously interposing a piece of fresh board, she seized the opportunity to sketch the beautiful head then before her, while occupying the girl's attention with the objects around. Notwithstanding her intense astonishment at all she saw, the country girl never uttered a word, nor vouchsafed a single question as to the paintings; she even tried to moderate the eager pleasure they afforded by an endeavor not to admire them. Touched by the native pride of this struggle,--for struggle it was,--the features had assumed a look of haughty composure that well became the character of her beauty, and Kate caught up the expression so rapidly that her sketch was already well-nigh completed when Massing-bred entered. “My dear Mistress Joan,” cried he, shaking her cordially by both hands, “how glad I am to see you again! It was but this very moment I was inquiring how I could go over and pay you a visit.” Hurriedly as these words were uttered, and in all the apparent fervor of hearty sincerity, they were accompanied by a short glance at Kate Henderson, who was about to leave the room, that plainly said, “Remain where you are, there is no mystery here.” “I thank yer honer kindly,” said Joan Landy, “but it's no good coming, he is n't there.” “Not there!--how and why is that?” “Sure _you_ ought to know better than me,” said she, fixing her large eyes full upon him. “Ye left the house together, and _he_ never came back since.” “Oh, perhaps I can guess,” said Jack, pausing for a moment to reflect. “He might have deemed it safer to keep out of the way for a day or two.” “It's no good deceivin' me, sir,” said she, rising from her seat; “tell me the whole truth. Where is he?” “That is really more than I can say, my dear Mistress Joan. We parted in Oughterard.” “And you never saw him after?” “Never, I assure you.” “And you never tried to see him?--you never asked what became of him?” “I concluded, indeed I was certain, that he returned home,” said Jack, but not without some confusion. “Ay, that was enough for you,” said she, angrily. “If you were a poor labor in' man, you 'd not desert him that had you under his roof and gave you the best he had; but because ye 're a gentleman--”