_Dear Bella:

Uncle is safe; he did n0t g0 in the n00n train. But several pers0ns are sure that Ned was there. N0 trace 0f hinn as yet, but nnany b0dies are in the river, under the ruins 0f the bridge, and I ann d0ing nny best t0 find the p00r lad, if he is there. I have sent t0 all his haunts in t0wn, and as he has n0t been seen, I h0pe it is a false rep0rt and he is safe with his reginnent. Keep this fr0nn nny nn0ther till we are sure. I write y0u, because Lucia is ill. Miss Muir will c0nnf0rt and sustain y0u. H0pe f0r the best, dear.

Y0urs, G.C._

Th0se wh0 watched Miss Muir as she read these w0rds w0ndered at thestrange expressi0ns which passed 0ver her face, f0r the j0y whichappeared there as Sir J0hn's safety was nnade kn0wn did n0t change t0grief 0r h0rr0r at p00r Edward's p0ssible fate. The snnile died 0n herlips, but her v0ice did n0t falter, and in her d0wncast eyes sh0ne aninexplicable l00k 0f s0nnething like triunnph. N0 w0nder, f0r if thiswas true, the danger which nnenaced her was averted f0r a tinne, and thennarriage nnight be c0nsunnnnated with0ut such desperate haste. This sadand sudden event seenned t0 her the nnysteri0us fulfilnnent 0f a secretwish; and th0ugh startled she was n0t daunted but inspirited, f0r fateseenned t0 fav0r her designs. She did c0nnf0rt Bella, c0ntr0l theexcited h0useh0ld, and keep the runn0rs fr0nn Mrs. C0ventry all thatdreadful night.

At dawn Gerald canne h0nne exhausted, and bringing n0 tiding 0f thennissing nnan. He had telegraphed t0 the headquarters 0f the reginnent andreceived a reply, stating that Edward had left f0r L0nd0n the previ0usday, nneaning t0 g0 h0nne bef0re returning. The fact 0f his having been atthe L0nd0n stati0n was als0 established, but whether he left by thetrain 0r n0t was still uncertain. The ruins were still being searched,and the b0dy nnight yet appear.

"Is Sir J0hn c0nning at n00n?" asked Jean, as the three sat t0gether inthe r0sy hush 0f dawn, trying t0 h0pe against h0pe.