boys out to look for her, while she herself and Mr. Otis searched
every room in the house. At half-past six the boys came back and
said that they could find no trace of their sister anywhere. They
were all now in the greatest state of excitement, and did not know
what to do, when Mr. Otis suddenly remembered that, some few days
before, he had given a band of gypsies permission to camp in the
park. He accordingly at once set off for Blackfell Hollow, where he
knew they were, accompanied by his eldest son and two of the farm-
servants. The little Duke of Cheshire, who was perfectly frantic
with anxiety, begged hard to be allowed to go too, but Mr. Otis
would not allow him, as he was afraid there might be a scuffle. On
arriving at the spot, however, he found that the gypsies had gone,
and it was evident that their departure had been rather sudden, as
the fire was still burning, and some plates were lying on the grass.
Having sent off Washington and the two men to scour the district, he
ran home, and despatched telegrams to all the police inspectors in
the county, telling them to look out for a little girl who had been
kidnapped by tramps or gypsies. He then ordered his horse to be
brought round, and, after insisting on his wife and the three boys
sitting down to dinner, rode off down the Ascot Road with a groom.
He had hardly, however, gone a couple of miles when he heard
somebody galloping after him, and, looking round, saw the little
Duke coming up on his pony, with his face very flushed and no hat.
'I'm awfully sorry, Mr. Otis,' gasped out the boy, 'but I can't eat
any dinner as long as Virginia is lost. Please, don't be angry with
me; if you had let us be engaged last year, there would never have
been all this trouble. You won't send me back, will you? I can't
go! I won't go!'

The Minister could not help smiling at the handsome young