saw the name on it--'Lady Maude Blythe'--and she asked to see
'Miss Jocelyn' on business. I asked if it was anything I could do,
and she said no. So I called the child in from the garden, and she
and the lady had quite a long talk together in the best parlour.
Then when the lady went away, Innocent told me that she had wished
to buy something from Briar Farm--but that it was not to be sold."

Robin listened attentively. "Curious!" he murmured--"very curious!
What was the lady's name?"

"Lady Maude Blythe," repeated Priscilla, slowly.

He took out a note-book and pencil, and wrote it down.

"You don't think she came to engage Innocent for some service?" he
asked. "Or that Innocent herself had perhaps written to an agency
asking for a place, and that this lady had come to see her in
consequence?"

Such an idea had never occurred to Priscilla's mind, but now it
was suggested to her it seemed more than likely.

"It might be so," she answered, slowly. "But I can't bear to think
the child was playin' a part an' tellin' me things that weren't
true just to get away from us. No! Mister Robin! I don't believe
that lady had anything to do with her going."

"Well, I shall keep the name by me," he said. "And I shall find
out where the lady lives, who she is and all about her. For if I
don't hear from Innocent, if she doesn't write to us, I'll search