He had not seen her
since he had kissed her when bidding her goodnight. Her maid was
the last person to whom she had spoken. Suzette had left her in
her own room, and since then nothing had been seen or heard of
Beatrice Earle.
Father and lover went out together. Lord Airlie suggested that
she had perhaps gone out into the gardens and had met with some
accident there. They went carefully over every part--there was
no trace of Beatrice. They went through the shrubbery out into
the park, where the quiet lake shone amid the green trees.
Suddenly, like the thrust of a sharp sword, the remembrance of
the morning spent upon the water came to Lord Airlie. He called
to mind Beatrice's fear--the cold shudder that seized her when
she declared that her own face with a mocking smile was looking
up at her from the depths of the water.
He walked hurriedly toward the lake. It was calm and clear--the
tall trees and green sedges swaying in the wind, the white lilies
rising and falling with the ripples. The blue sky and green
trees were reflected in the water, the pleasure boat was fastened
to the boat house.
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