Up the private staircase he went, and through the narrow hall, till he reached his door and found it locked.

Ethie was surely gone.

She had not expected him so soon.
Mrs.Amsden had urged her to stay, and she had stayed.

This was what Richard said, as he went down to the office for the key, which the clerk handed him, with the remark: "Mrs.Markham went to Olney the very day you left.

I thought perhaps you would stop there and bring her home." Richard did not reply, but hurried back to the darkened room, where everything was in order; even Ethie's work-box was in its usual place upon the little table, and Ethie's chair was standing near; but something was missing--something besides Ethie--and its absence made the room look bare and strange as the gas-light fell upon it.