“No, ma’am.”
“I heard you and her talking there not long ago,” said Agnes.
“She went down-stairs for a piece of cake a good while ago.”
Agnes almost flew down to the kitchen, and inquired of the chambermaid, whom she found there, if she had seen Madeline.
“I heard her come down-stairs a little while ago, and I think she went into the parlor,” replied the chambermaid.
One of the parlor-shutters was found pushed open, the curtain drawn aside, and a chair out of position.
“She has been here,” said Mrs. Dainty, in a choking whisper.
“Perhaps she has fallen asleep somewhere,” suggested a domestic.
“Search through the house, everywhere!” replied Mrs. Dainty. “Look into all the rooms and closets! How could you lose sight of her?”
But they searched in vain. The child was not in the house!