As they went, Letty seemed to herself to be walking in some old
dream of change and desertion. The tower was empty as a monument,
not a trace of the crowd left, which a few minutes before had
thronged it. The wind had risen in earnest now, and was rushing
about, like a cold wild ghost, through every cranny of the
desolate place. Had Letty, when she reached the bottom of the
stairs, found herself on the rocks of the seashore, with the
waves dashing up against them, she would only have said to
herself, "I knew I was in a dream!" But the wind having blown
away the hail-cloud, the stars were again shining down into the
hall. One or two forlorn-looking searchers were still there; the
rest had scattered like the gnats. A few were already at home;
some were harnessing their horses to go, nor would wait for the
man in the moon to light his lantern; some were already trudging
on foot through the dark. Hesper and Miss Yolland were talking to
two or three friends in the drawing-room; Lady Margaret was in
her boudoir, and Mr. Mortimer smoking a cigar in his study.
Nowhere could Letty find Susan. She was in the farmer's kitchen
behind. Tom suspected as much, but was far from hinting the
possibility. Letty found her cloak, which she had left in the
hall, soaked with rain, and thought it prudent to go home at
once, nor prosecute her search for Susan further.
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