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So she remained riveted。 Had Jael been conscious； and culpable； nothing could have escaped a scrutiny so penetrating。
Even unconscious as she was； Jael's brain and body began to show some signs they were not quite impervious to the strange magnetic power which besieged them so closely。 When Grace's eyes had been close to hers about a minute； Jael Dence moved her head slightly to the left； as if those eyes scorched her。
But Grace moved her own head to the right； rapid as a snake； and fixed her again directly。
Jael Dence's bosom gave a heave。
〃WhereisHenry Little？〃 said Grace； still holding her tight by the eye； and speaking very slowly； and in such a tone； low； but solemn and commanding； a tone that compelled reply。
〃WhereisHenry Little？〃
When this was so repeated； Jael moved a little； and her lips began to quiver。
〃WhereisHenry Little？〃
Jael's lips opened feebly； and some inarticulate sounds issued from them。
〃WhereisHenry Little？〃
Jael Dence； though unconscious； writhed and moaned so that the head nurse interfered； and said she could not have the patient tormented。
Ransome waved her aside； but taking Grace Carden's hand drew her gently away。
She made no positive resistance； but； while her body yielded and retired； her eye remained riveted on Jael Dence； and her hand clutched the air like a hawk's talons； unwilling to lose her prey； and then she turned so weak； Ransome had to support her to her carriage。
As Grace's head sunk on Ransome's shoulder； Jael Dence's eyes closed for the first time。
As Ransome was lifting Grace Carden into the carriage； she said； in a sort of sleepy voice； 〃Is there no way out of these works but one？〃
〃Not that I know of； but I will go at once and see。 Shall he drive you home？〃
〃Yes。 Noto Dr。 Amboyne。〃
Dr。 Amboyne was gone to Woodbine Villa。
She waited in his study； moving about the room all the time； with her face of marble； and her poor restless hands。
At last the doctor returned： they told him at the door Miss Carden was there； he came in to her with both hands extended； and his face working with emotion。
She fell sobbing into his arms； sobbing； but not a tear。
〃Is there any hope？〃
〃I have one。 May he not have left the country in a fit of despair？ He often threatened。 He talked of going to the United States。〃
〃So he did。 Ah； he called on me yesterday afternoon。 Might not that have been to bid me good…by？〃
She looked so imploringly in Dr。 Amboyne's face that he assented； though full of doubt。
And now there was a ring at the bell； and Mr。 Ransome came to say there was a little postern gate by which Mr。 Little might possibly have gone out and the porter not seen him； and； what was more； this gate； by all accounts； had been recently opened： it was closed before Bolt and Little took the premises。
Mr。 Ransome added that he should now make it his business to learn； if possible； whether it had been opened by Mr。 Little's orders。
Grace thanked him earnestly； and looked hopeful； so did Dr。 Amboyne。
〃But； doctor；〃 said Grace； 〃if he has gone away at all； he must have told somebody。 Even if there was nobody he loved； he would tell ah！ Mr。 Bolt！！〃
〃You are right。 Let us go to him at once。〃
They found Mr。 Bolt in quite a different frame of mind from their own； he was breathing vengeance。 However； he showed some feeling for Grace； and told the doctor plainly he feared the worst。 Little had been downhearted for some time； and at last he （Bolt） had lost patience with him； and had proposed to him to take an annual payment of nine hundred pounds instead of a share； and leave the concern。 Little had asked two days to consider this proposal。 〃Now；〃 argued Bolt； 〃if he meant to leave England； he could not do better than take my offer： and he would have taken it before he left。 He would have called； or else sent me a letter。 But no； not a word！ It's a bad job： I'm fond of money； but I'd give a few thousands to see him alive again。 But I don't think I ever shall。 There are five hundred thousand bricks of ours in that river； and a foot and a half of mud。〃
While they were both shuddering at this dark allusion； he went off into idle threats； and Grace left him； sick and cold； and clinging to Dr。 Amboyne like a drowning woman。
〃Have courage；〃 said Dr。 Amboyne。 〃There is one chance left us。 His mother！ I will telegraph to Aberystwith。〃
They drove together to the telegraph…office； and sent a telegram。 The doctor would not consent to frighten Mrs。 Little to death。 He simply asked whether her son had just visited or written to her。 The answer was paid for； but four hours elapsed； and no answer came。
Then Grace implored the doctor to go with her to Aberystwith。 He looked grave； and said she was undertaking too much。 She replied； almost fiercely； that she must do all that could be done； or she should go mad。
〃But your father； my dear！〃
〃He is in London。 I will tell him all when he returns。 He would let me go anywhere with you。 I must go； I will！〃
At four o'clock they were in the train。 They spoke to each other but little on the way； their hearts were too full of dire forebodings to talk about nothings。 But； when they were in the fly at Aberystwith； going from the station to Mrs。 Little's lodgings； Grace laid her head on her friend's shoulder and said； 〃Oh； doctor； it has come to this； I hope he loved his mother better than me。〃 Then came a flood of tearsthe first。
They went to Mrs。 Little's lodgings。 The landlady had retired to bed； and； on hearing their errand； told them； out of the second… floor window； that Mrs。 Little had left her some days ago； and gone to a neighboring village for change of air。
Grace and Dr。 Amboyne drove next morning to that village； and soon learned where Mrs。 Little was。 Dr。 Amboyne left Grace at the inn； for he knew the sight of her would at once alarm Mrs。 Little； and in a matter so uncertain as this； he thought the greatest caution necessary。 Grace waited for him at the inn in an agony of suspense。 She watched at the window for him； and at last she saw him coming toward her。 His head was down； and she could not read his face； or she could have told in a moment whether he brought good news or bad。
She waited for him； erect but trembling。 He opened the door； and stood before her； pale and agitatedso pale and agitated she had never seen him before。
He faltered out； 〃She knows nothing。 She must know nothing。 She is too ill and weak； and； indeed； in such a condition that to tell her the fatal news would probably have killed her on the spot。 All I dared do was to ask her with assumed indifference if she had heard from Henry lately。 No； Grace； not for these three days。〃
He sat down and groaned aloud。
〃You love the son；〃 said he； 〃but I love the mother： loved her years before you were born。〃
At this unexpected revelation Grace Carden kissed him； and wept on his shoulder。 Then they went sadly home again。
Doctor Amboyne now gave up all hopes of Henry； and his anxiety was concentrated on Mrs。 Little。 How on earth was he to save her from a shock likely to prove fatal in her weak condition？ To bring her to Hillsborough in her present state wou