The
housemaid, who had searched for her ineffectually, brought word
that her bonnet and shawl were not hanging in their usual places.
The parlor-maid, who had been in attendance in my mistress's
room, came down while we were all aghast at this new
disappearance. She could only tell us that Josephine had begged
her to do lady's-maid's duty that morning, as she was not well.
Not well! And the first result of her illness appeared to be that
she had left the house!
I cautioned the servants on no account to mention this
circumstance to my mistress, and then went upstairs myself to
knock at her door. My object was to ask if I might count on her
approval if I wrote in her name to the lawyer in London, and if I
afterward went and gave information of what had occurred to the
nearest justice of the peace. I might have sent to make this
inquiry through one of the female servants; but by this time,
though not naturally suspicious, I had got to distrust everybody
in the house, whether they deserved it or not.
So I asked the question myself, standing outside the door. My
mistress thanked me in a faint voice, and begged me to do what I
had proposed immediately.
I went into my own bedroom and wrote to the lawyer, merely
telling him that Mr. James Smith had appeared unexpectedly at the
Hall, and that events had occurred in consequence which required
his immediate presence.
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