And do you think, my lord, that Mr. Maltravers has never to this day ascertained what became of the poor young woman?
Why, let me see, – what was her name? The magistrate thought a moment, and replied, Alice Darvil.
Alice! exclaimed Vargrave. Alice! – aware that such was the Christian name of his uncle’s wife, and now almost convinced of the truth of his first vague suspicion. You seem to know the name?
Of Alice; yes – but not Darvil. No, no; I believe he has never heard of the girl to this hour. Nor you either?
I have not. One little circumstance related to me by Mr. Hobbs, your surveyor’s father, gave me some uneasiness. About two years after the young woman disappeared, a girl, of very humble dress and appearance, stopped at the gate of Hobbs’ Lodge, and asked earnestly for Mr. Butler. On hearing he was gone, she turned away, and was seen no more. It seems that this girl had an infant in her arms – which rather shocked the propriety of Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs. The old gentleman told me the circumstance a few days after it happened, and I caused inquiry to be made for the stranger; but she could not be discovered…