"  It  is  Eichard  Bassett ! "  she  cried.  "  He  knows  how
to  wound  and  kill  me.    He  has  stolen  our  child."

Sir  Charles  hurried  out,  and  soon  after  that  Eeginald
arrived,  and  stood  awe-struck  at  her  deplorable  condition.
Sir  Charles  came  back  heated  and  anxious,  kissed
Eeginald,  told  him  in  three  words  his  brother  was  miss-
ing, and  then  informed  Lady  Bassett  that  he  had  learned
something  very  extraordinary ;  Richard  Bassett's  little
girl  had  also  disappeared,  and  his  people  were  out,  look-
ing after  her.
"  Ah !  they  are  together,"  cried  Lady  Bassett.
"  Together  ?  a  son  of  mine  consorting  with  that  viper's
brood ! "

"  What  does  that  poor  child  know  ?  Oh,  find  him  for
me,  if  you  love  that  dear  child's  mother !-"

Sir  Charles  hurried  out  directly,  but  was  met  at  the
door  by  a  servant,  who  blurted  out:  "The  men  have
dragged  the  fish-ponds.  Sir  Charles,  and  they  want  to
know  if  they  shall  drag  the  brook."

"Hold  your  tongue,  idiot!"  cried  Sir  Charles,  and
thrust  him  out ;  but  the  wiseacre  had  not  spoken  in  vain.
Lady  Bassett  moaned,  and  went  into  worse  hysterics,
with  nobody  near  her  but  Eeginald.
That  worthy,  never  having  seen  a  lady  in  hysterics,


390  A  TERRIBLE  TEMPTATION.
and  not  being  hardened  at  all  points,  uttered  a  sympa-
thetic howl,  and  flung  his  arms  round  her  neck.  "  Oh,
oh,  oh  !    Don't  cry,  mamma."

Lady  Bassett  shuddered  at  his  touch,  but  did  not  repel
him.
"  I'll  find  him  for  you,"  said  the  boy, "  if  you  will  leave
off  crying."

She  stared  in  his  face  a  moment,  and  then  went  on  as
before.
