“What in the d——­l’s name are you running after me for?” burst forth the old man as Jacko overtook him.

“Why, uncle, I want to know if you’ll please to give orders in the stable to have the carriage wheels washed off nicely?  They neglect it.  And I and Marian want to use it this afternoon.”

“Go to the deuce!  Is that my business?”

Jacquelina laughed; and, quivering through every fibre of her frame with mischief, went back into the drawing-room to see the state of Grim.

To Jacquelina’s surprise she found the note lying upon the same spot where she had dropped it.  Dr. Grimshaw was standing with his back toward her, looking out of the window.  She could not see the expression of his countenance.  She stooped and picked up the note, but had scarcely replaced it in her pocket before Dr. Grimshaw abruptly turned, walked up and stood before her and looked in her face.  Jacquelina could scarcely suppress a scream; it was as if a ghost had come before her, so blanched was his color, so ghastly his features.  An instant he gazed into her eyes, and then passed out and went up-stairs.  Jacquelina turned slowly around, looking after him like one magnetized.  Then recovering herself, with a deep breath she said: 

“Now I ask of all the ‘powers that be’ generally, what’s the meaning of that?  He picked up the note and he read it; that’s certain.  And he dropped it there again to make me believe he had never seen it; that’s certain, too.  I wonder what he means to do!  There’ll be fun of some sort, anyway!  Stop! here comes Marian from the quarters.  I shouldn’t wonder if she has missed her note, and hurried back in search of it.  Come!  I’ll take a hint from Grim, and drop it where I found it, and say nothing.”

And so soliloquizing, the fairy glided back into the breakfast-room, let the note fall, and turned away just in time to allow Marian to enter, glance around, and pick up her lost treasure.  Then joining Marian, she invited her up-stairs to look at some new finery just come from the city.

The forenoon passed heavily at Luckenough.  When the dinner hour approached, and the family collected in the dining-room, Dr. Grimshaw was missing; and when a messenger was sent to call him to dinner, an answer was returned that the professor was unwell, and preferred to keep his room.

Jacquelina was quivering between fun and fear—­vague, unaccountable fear, that hung over her like a cloud, darkening her bright frolic spirit with a woeful presentiment.

After dinner Marian asked for the carriage, and Mrs. Waugh gave orders that it should be brought around for her use.  Jacquelina prepared to accompany Marian home, and in an hour they were ready, and set forth.

“You may tell Grim, if he asks after me, that I am gone home with Marian to Old Fields, and that I am not certain whether I shall return to-night or not,” said Jacquelina, as she took leave of Mrs. Waugh.