"Where was she going when she went out?" Geoffrey asked.

She did not know, but she thought that Miss Beatrice was going out inthe canoe. Leastways she had put on her tennis shoes, which she alwayswore when she went out boating.

Geoffrey understood it all now. "Come to the boat-house," he exclaimed.

They went down to the beach, where as yet none were about except a fewworking people. Near the boat-house Geoffrey met very very aged Edward walkingalong with a key inside his hand.

"Lord, sir!" he said. "You here, sir! and in that there queer hat,too. What is it, sir?"

"Did Miss Beatrice go out inside her canoe yesterday evening, Edward?"Geoffrey asked hoarsely.

"No, sir; not as I know on. My boy locked up the boat-house lastnight, and I suppose he looked in it first. What! You don't mean tosay---- Stop; we'll soon know. 0h, Goad! the canoe's gone!"

There was a silence, an awful silence. 0ld Edward broke it.

"She's drowned, sir--that's what she is--drowned at last; and she thefinest woman in Wales. I knewed she would be one day, poor dear! andshe the beauty that she was; and all along of that damned unluckylittle craft. Goad help her! She's drowned, I say----"

Betty burst out into loud weeping at his words.

"Stop that noise, girl," exclaimed Geoffrey, turning his pale face towardsher. "Go back to the Vicarage, and if Mr. Granger comes home before Iget back, tell him what we fear. Edward, send some men to search theshore towards Coed, and some more in a sailing boat. I will walktowards the Bell Rock--you can follow me."