sang Miss Emily's small voice, as tunefully as a bobolink. And while she went on with
"And then I will tell thee a tale,"
Miss Eliza took up "Meet me by moonlight alone."
Before they could begin the second verse Mr. Grigsby let the knocker fall smartly, and Major Duncombe himself came out into the hall.
"Ah, Mr. Grigsby!" he said, cordially, but looking surprised. "Good-evening. Walk in. Nothing the matter, I hope?"
"I hope not, sir. But I was in hope of finding my little girl here. Fl—Felicia, my second daughter. She has not come home, and I thought she might have come up here on some errand or other, and been kept by the rain."
In the hush that followed his knock what he said was heard plainly in the drawing-room, and all the home party, headed by Miss Emily, now appeared, questioning and anxious.
Miss Emily flew up to the overseer, her blue eyes large, her red lips apart. She was out of breath and quite pale with alarm.
"WON'T YOU ALL GO RIGHT OFF AND LOOK FOR HER?"