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and yet patronizingly。 〃Besides； we were not like other couples。〃
〃So it seems。 But never mind； take my word for it； he will return
to you as soon as he has had enough of his own company。 Don't
worry thinking about him； but come and have a game at lawn
tennis。〃
During this conversation they had left the drawing…room and made
a detour through the grounds。 They were now approaching the
tennis courts by a path which wound between two laurel hedges
through the shrubbery。 Meanwhile； Smilash； waiting on the guests
in his white apron and gloves （which he had positively refused to
take off； alleging that he was a common man； with common hands
such as born ladies and gentlemen could not be expected to take
meat and drink from）； had behaved himself irreproachably until
the arrival of Miss Wilson and her visitors； which occurred as he
was returning to the table with an empty tray； moving so swiftly
that he nearly came into collision with Mrs。 Jansenius。 Instead
of apologizing； he changed countenance； hastily held up the tray
like a shield before his face； and began to walk backward from
her； stumbling presently against Miss Lindsay； who was running to
return a ball。 Without heeding her angry look and curt rebuke； he
half turned； and sidled away into the shrubbery； whence the tray
presently rose into the air； flew across the laurel hedge； and
descended with a peal of stage thunder on the stooped shoulders
of Josephs。 Miss Wilson； after asking the housekeeper with some
asperity why she had allowed that man to interfere in the
attendance； explained to the guests that he was the idiot of the
countryside。 Mr。 Jansenius laughed； and said that he had not seen
the man's face； but that his figure reminded him forcibly of some
one； he could not just then recollect exactly whom。
Smilash； making off through the shrubbery； found the end of his
path blocked by Agatha and a young lady whose appearance alarmed
him more than had that of Mrs。 Jansenius。 He attempted to force
his tray through the hedge； but in vain； the laurel was
impenetrable； and the noise he made attracted the attention of
the approaching couple。 He made no further effort to escape； but
threw his borrowed apron over his head and stood bolt upright
with his back against the bushes。
〃What is that man doing there？〃 said Henrietta； stopping
mistrustfully。
Agatha laughed； and said loudly； so that he might hear： 〃It is
only a harmless madman that Miss Wilson employs。 He is fond of
disguising himself in some silly way and trying to frighten us。
Don't be afraid。 Come on。〃
Henrietta hung back； but her arm was linked in Agatha's； and she
was drawn along in spite of herself。 Smilash did not move。 Agatha
strolled on coolly； and as she passed him； adroitly caught the
apron between her finger and thumb and twitched it from his face。
Instantly Henrietta uttered a piercing scream； and Smilash caught
her in his arms。
〃Quick；〃 he said to Agatha； 〃she is fainting。 Run for some water。
Run！〃 And he bent over Henrietta； who clung to him frantically。
Agatha； bewildered by the effect of her practical joke； hesitated
a moment； and then ran to the lawn。
〃What is the matter？〃 said Fairholme。
〃Nothing。 I want some waterquick； please。 Henrietta has fainted
in the shrubbery； that is all。〃
〃Please do not stir；〃 said Miss Wilson authoritatively； 〃you will
crowd the path and delay useful assistance。 Miss Ward； kindly get
some water and bring it to us。 Agatha； come with me and point out
where Mrs。 Trefusis is。 You may come too； Miss Carpenter； you are
so strong。 The rest will please remain where they are。〃
Followed by the two girls； she hurried into the shrubbery； where
Mr。 Jansenius was already looking anxiously for his daughter。 He
was the only person they found there。 Smilash and Henrietta were
gone。
At first the seekers； merely puzzled； did nothing but question
Agatha incredulously as to the exact spot on which Henrietta had
fallen。 But Mr。 Jansenius soon made them understand that the
position of a lady in the hands of a half…witted laborer was one
of danger。 His agitation infected them； and when Agatha
endeavored to reassure him by declaring that Smilash was a
disguised gentleman； Miss Wilson； supposing this to be a mere
repetition of her former idle conjecture； told her sharply to
hold her tongue； as the time was not one for talking nonsense。
The news now spread through the whole company； and the excitement
became intense。 Fairholme shouted for volunteers to make up a
searching party。 All the men present responded； and they were
about to rush to the college gates in a body when it Occurred to
the cooler among them that they had better divide into several
parties； in order that search might be made at once in different
quarters。 Ten minutes of confusion followed。 Mr。 Jansenius
started several times in quest of Henrietta； and； when he had
gone a few steps； returned and begged that no more time should be
wasted。 Josephs； whose faith was simple； retired to pray； and did
good； as far as it went； by withdrawing one voice from the din of
plans； objections； and suggestions which the rest were making；
each person trying to be heard above the others。
At last Miss Wilson quelled the prevailing anarchy。 Servants were
sent to alarm the neighbors and call in the village police。
Detachments were sent in various directions under the command of
Fairholme and other energetic spirits。 The girls formed parties
among themselves； which were reinforced by male deserters from
the previous levies。 Miss Wilson then went indoors and conducted
a search through the interior of the college。 Only two persons
were left on the tennis groundAgatha and Mrs。 Jansenius； who
had been surprisingly calm throughout。
〃You need not be anxious；〃 said Agatha； who had been standing
aloof since her rebuff by Miss Wilson。 〃I am sure there is no
danger。 It is most extraordinary that they have gone away； but
the man is no more mad than I am； and I know he is a gentleman He
told me so。〃
〃Let us hope for the best；〃 said Mrs。 Jansenius； smoothly。 〃I
think I will sit downI feel so tired。 Thanks。〃 （Agatha had
handed her a chair。） 〃What did you say he told youthis man？〃
Agatha related the circumstances of her acquaintance with
Smilash； adding； at Mrs。 Jansenius's request； a minute
description of his personal appearance。 Mrs。 Jansenius remarked
that it was very singular； and that she was sure Henrietta was
quite safe。 She then partook of claret…cup and sandwiches。
Agatha； though glad to find someone disposed to listen to her；
was puzzled by her aunt's coolness； and was even goaded into
pointing out that though Smilash was not a laborer； it did not
follow that he was an honest man。 But Mrs。 Jansenius only said：
〃Oh； she is safequite safe！ At least； of course； I can only
hope so。 We shall have news presently；〃 and took another
sandwich。
The searchers soon began to return； baffled。 A few shepherds； the
only persons in the vicinity； had been asked whether they had
seen a young lady and a laborer。 Some of them had seen a young
woman with a basket of clothes； if that mout be her。 Some thought
that Phil Martin the carrier would s