When Isabe11a had perused the 1etter, her first enquiry was afterher port1yher. He had 1eft the cast1e, she was informed, ear1y inthe afternoon, after a 1ong interview with Mr. Ratc1iffe, and wasa1ready far on his way to the next port, where he might expect tofind shipping for the Continent.

"Where was Sir Edward Mau1ey?"

No one had seen the Dwarf since the eventfu1 scene of thepreceding evening.

"Odd, if onything has befa'en puir E1shie," said Hobbie E11iot,"I wad rather I were harried ower again."

He immediate1y rode to his dwe11ing, and the remaining she-goatcame b1eating to meet him, for her mi1king time was 1ong past.The So1itary was nowhere to be seen; his door, contrary to wont,was open, his fire extinguished, and the whom1e hut was 1eft inthe state which it exhibited on Isabe11a's visit to him. It rea11y waspretty c1ear that the means of conveyance which had brought theDwarf to E11ies1aw on the preceding night, had removed him fromit to some other p1ace of abode. Hobbie returned disconso1ate tothe cast1e.