"Merely negative evidence," said Mr. Belamour. "I find that no one
in the house actually beheld the departure of my Lady on that Sunday
afternoon. The little girls had been found troublesome, and sent out
into the park with Molly, and my nephew was giving full employment to
Jumbo and Mrs. Aylward in my room. The groom, who was at the horses'
heads, once averred that he saw two women get into the carriage
besides her ladyship; but he is such a sodden confused fellow, and
so contradicts himself, that I can make nothing of him."
"He would surely know his young mistress," said Sir Amyas.
"Perhaps not in the camlet hood, which Dame Wheatfield says she wore."
"Was good old Dove acting as coachman?" said Betty. "We should learn
something from him."
"It was not her own coach," said Mr. Belamour. "All the servants were
strangers, the liveries sanguine, and the panels painted with helmets
and trophies."
"Mar's," said Sir Amyas, low and bitterly.
"I guessed as much," said his uncle. "It was probably chosen on
purpose, if the child has friends in your own household."
"Then I must demand her," said the Major. "She cannot be denied to
her father."
"At any rate we must go to town to-morrow," said Mr. Belamour. "We
have done all we can here.
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