This was done, and the evening meal had been taken, and Thekla had
gone to bed before some flashes of lightning made the two sisters
wish to see the other pair at home, especially as Vera was much
afraid of lightning, and Paula apt to be made quite ill by it.

The storm rolled on, bringing violent gusts of wind and hail, though
not at the very nearest, and such a hurricane of wind and rain ensued
that the two watchers concluded that the two girls must have been
housed for the night by some of the friends at Rock Quay, and it was
near midnight, when just as they had gone to their rooms, a carriage
was heard ascending the hill, and they had reached the door before
Paulina sprang out with the cry, "Is she come home?" Then at sight
of the blank faces of dismay, she seized hold of Agatha's hands and
began to sob. Mr. Flight had stepped out of the car at the same
moment, and answered the incoherent questions and exclamations.

"Young Delrio offered to take photographs of the party, and that was
the last time she was seen."

"Yes," sobbed Paula, "Sister Mena saw her there. We were trying to
get up croquet, and then I missed her. I tried to find her when the
lightning began, but I could not find her anywhere, though I looked
in all the summer-houses!"

"At Mrs. Henderson's? or Miss Mohun's? or the Sisters'?" asked
Magdalen, catching alarm from each denial. "She might have gone home
with one of the girls."

"She would be wild in such a storm," said Agatha, "and not know what