"After he had seen Janet about something he wished to say to her," said Eli, slowly.
"And where is the hussey; d——n it, man, where is she?"
Eli strode up to him, and looking him full in the face, said—
"Not that word from you, Squire, take it back, take it back; she is my child."
Redmond Maynard controlled his feelings.
"It is a hard word, Eli, I ought not to have used it. You have sufficient to bear without that," he said.
"He knows," thought Eli. "How does he know?" and he looked at the Squire, who could not fail to notice his surprise.
"May I speak with your daughter?" said the Squire; and from this Eli knew there was some mystery he did not yet grasp.
"She is gone," he replied, in a low voice, for the first time acknowledging the dreadful truth.
"Left your house!" exclaimed Redmond Maynard.