He was brought to a realization of what was passing around by hearing the rumble of a carriage in the lane, and almost before he could reach the door, Aunt Nancy was in the house, while Mr. Chick had driven away at the full speed of his very slow horse.
"Did you get along all right, Jack dear?" the little woman asked, as she deposited an armful of bundles on the table.
"Yes, indeed. You see there has been plenty of work, and it doesn't seem any time since you left."
"Where is the baby?"
"On the doorstep. He fussed to go out, an' I thought the fresh air wouldn't do him any harm."
"Which doorstep?"
"Why here, of course"; and Jack stepped forward only to give vent to a cry of alarm an instant later. "He isn't here at all! Where do you suppose he could have gone?"
Aunt Nancy was at the door before he ceased speaking, and gazed up and down the yard in bewilderment, but without seeing any signs of the missing baby.
For an instant the two stood gazing at each other in perplexity, and then Aunt Nancy asked sharply,—
"How long since you saw him?"