"Mrs. Milton and the maids have looked into all the rooms, ma'am, and Miss Mittie is not to be found."
"She can't be out of doors. It is absurd, at this hour. Of course she can't. When did anybody see her last?"
"Mrs. Milton saw her for a minute after luncheon, ma'am—some little time after. Mrs. Milton was very busy, and Miss Mittie said she was going to speak to Miss Rivers."
"Yes; she came to me," Hermione observed calmly. "She asked when you were expected to arrive."
"Was that all?"
"Not quite. I was busy, and could not attend to her. She said something, I think, about going out to get some flowers, I did not exactly hear what."
"Didn't hear, and didn't care! What o'clock was that?"
"I am not sure. It may have been about half-past three."
"Mittie is most probably at the Rectory," said Harvey.
"No, sir; I thought of that. But Mrs. Milton says that Mr. and Miss Fitzalan are absent for the day. Miss Mittie told Mrs. Milton so; and also Mrs. Milton knows that Miss Mittie intended to be at home when Mrs. Trevor should arrive."