CHAPTER XL. THE HAPPY PAIR.

ThedaysucceedingthisremarkableMidsummernight,provednocommonday.Idonotmeanthatitbroughtsignsinheavenabove,orportentsontheearthbeneathnordoIalludetometeorologicalphenomena,tostorm,flood,orwhirlwind.Onthecontrary:thesunrosejocund,withaJulyface.Morningdeckedherbeautywithrubies,andsofilledherlapwithroses,thattheyfellfromherinshowers,makingherpathblush:theHourswokefreshasnymphs,andemptyingontheearlyhillstheirdew-vials,theysteppedoutdismantledofvapour:shadowless,azure,andglorious,theyledthesun’ssteedsonaburninganduncloudedcourse. Inshort,itwasasfineadayasthefinestsummercouldboastbutIdoubtwhetherIwasnotthesoleinhabitantoftheRueFossette,whocaredorrememberedtonotethispleasantfact.Anotherthoughtbusiedallotherheadsathought,indeed,whichhaditsshareinmymeditationsbutthismasterconsideration,notpossessingformesoentireanovelty,sooverwhelmingasuddenness,especiallysodenseamystery,asitofferedtothemajorityofmyco-speculatorsthereon,leftmesomewhatmoreopenthantheresttoanycollateralobservationorimpression. Still,whilewalkinginthegarden,feelingthesunshine,andmarkingthebloomingandgrowingplants,Iponderedthesamesubjectthewholehousediscussed. Whatsubject? Merelythis.Whenmatinscametobesaid,therewasaplacevacantinthefirstrankofboarders.Whenbreakfastwasserved,thereremainedacoffee-cupunclaimed.Whenthehousemaidmadethebeds,shefoundinone,abolsterlaidlengthwise,cladinacapandnight-gownandwhenGinevraFanshawe’smusic-mistresscameearly,asusual,togivethemorninglesson,thataccomplishedandpromisingyoungperson,herpupil,failedutterlytobeforthcoming. HighandlowwasMissFanshawesoughtthroughlengthandbreadthwasthehouseransackedvainlynotatrace,notanindication,notsomuchasascrapofabilletrewardedthesearchthenymphwasvanished,engulfedinthepastnight,likeashootingstarswallowedupbydarkness. Deepwasthedismayofsurveillanteteachers,deeperthehorrorofthedefaultingdirectress.NeverhadIseenMadameBecksopaleorsoappalled.Herewasablowstruckathertenderpart,herweaksideherewasdamagedonetoherinterest.How,too,hadtheuntowardeventhappened?Bywhatoutlethadthefugitivetakenwing?Notacasementwasfoundunfastened,notapaneofglassbrokenallthedoorswereboltedsecure.NevertothisdayhasMadameBeckobtainedsatisfactiononthispoint,norindeedhasanybodyelseconcerned,saveandexceptingone,LucySnowe,whocouldnotforgethow,tofacilitateacertainenterprise,acertaingreatdoorhadbeendrawnsoftlytoitslintel,closed,ind