CHAPTER X.

NO CLUE.

It was six o'clock when the train reached the London terminus, and Robert knew that Carl would certainly be at his chapel. He was the only person known to Hester, and therefore it was to him that he must go for any chance of information. He called a cab, and bade the driver drive as quickly as he could to the chapel; but the service had already begun when they arrived at it. In no mood to present himself in the midst of a congregation, Robert found his way to the vestry, and waited there in growing impatience for the conclusion of the service. The door was open, and he could hear every word uttered by Carl's clear voice, so modulated and varied that commonplace words took almost a tone of eloquence from it. He was preaching concerning temptation; and Robert's bruised spirit felt more deeply wounded by it. What did this boy, with his pure, unsullied life, his soul which had never betrayed its own ideal, know of temptation, or of sin? At length the

VOL. III.

H

torture was ended. Carl pronounced the last soothing benediction; and in a minute or two afterwards entered his vestry.

upon

On his part, when Carl's eyes fell Robert, he started back with a momentary disquiet and apprehension. He looked worn and ill. The terrible scene of the past night had made him utterly regardless of those small, minute cares as to his appearance, which had invariably occupied him hitherto. He had not slept at all; and he had suffered horribly. The years, which had seemed to pass over him leaving no trace, had been graving secret lines upon his features, which now started out in strong relief, ageing him abruptly. Carl fancied, as he stood by the window, with the light falling upon his head, that he could see a faint tinge of white, a shining line of silver here and there amongst his disordered hair. They had not parted as friends; and they knew each other to be rivals. Carl closed the door, and locked it against any intruder; and then waited for Robert to speak.

"Do you know anything of Hester ?" asked Robert, approaching him, and speaking in a low voice.

"Hester! no!" answered Carl, in amazement and alarm. What is the matter with her?"

"She came up to London yesterday," said Robert; "and I made sure you would know where she is. She had no one to go to but you. For God's sake, Carl! do not hide from me anything about her. I only ask to know that she is safe; that you are taking care of her. I will not ask to see her. I give her up to you altogether. Only remove my anxiety. Tell me that you have found some safe home for her."

"I know nothing about her," cried Carl, in anxiety equal to his own. "What do you mean? Is not Hester at home with her father?"

"They are neither of them at home," he answered. "Hester came to London by the twelve o'clock train from Little Aston, yesterday; and her father fled last night."

"Fled!" echoed Carl, his heart sinking within him.

"He has murdered Rose," continued Robert, hurriedly; " and I am in pursuit of him. Not to give him up; no, but to save Hester.

He is mad, Carl; and what can she do with a madman? What can we do? Have you no clue at all to the motive that brought her up here? My only hope was in you."

"Stop!" he exclaimed, as a sudden light flashed across him; "she must have come to see little Hester. I wrote on Thursday to tell her about the child; and she must have made up her mind to come and see her. She is very ill."

If it had been possible for Robert's face to grow more pallid, it would have done so at these words, a stray shaft shot at random by Carl, whose thoughts were thoughts were too full of Hester to remember that he had betrayed a secret which he was pledged to keep. He was in haste to be gone, to hurry to the school where the child lived, in order to make inquiries there. Neither of them knew by how small and trifling a chance Hester had missed breaking in upon their interview.

"Where are you going?" asked Robert, as Carl opened the outer door of the vestry.

"Where?" exclaimed Carl, impetuously; "to find Hester. We must find her to-night. Did you not say her father is a madman,

and has murdered Rose? Find her? Can I take any rest or sleep until she is safe? Yet God has her in His safe keeping!"

He said these last words with a half sob, and raised his hand to his eyes for an instant. Then he turned towards Robert with a glance of profound and unutterable trouble.

"You may come with me, if you choose," he continued; "I am going to see Rose Morley's child."

Robert followed him mechanically, his head reeling and his limbs tottering. Carl saw it, and drew his arm through his own, pressing it to his side with an earnest pressure. Whatever his own anxiety and terror might be, it could not equal in anguish and intensity that of Robert Waldron.

They reached the poor, dingy house, in which his child lived; and the over-worked servant opened the door to them. They had been expecting Mr. Bramwell and the young lady for some time, she said. No, the young

She had been

lady had not come back yet. there all day, nursing little Miss Hester, but she had left her in the evening to go to Mr. Bramwell's chapel, promising to return