CHAPTER VIII.
Hilliard waited for her to continue, but Patty kept her eyes down and said no more.
"Did you think," he asked, "that I was likely to be in Miss Madeley's confidence ?" "You've known her a long time, haven't you ?" This proof of reticence, or perhaps of deliberate misleading, on Eve's part astonished Hilliard.

He replied evasively that he had very little acquaintance with Miss Madeley's affairs, and added: "May she not simply have changed her lodgings ?" "Why should she go so suddenly, and without letting me know ?" "What had the landlady to say ?" "She heard her tell the cab to drive to Mudie's--the library, you know." "Why," said Hilliard; "that meant, perhaps, that she wanted to return a book before leaving London.

Is there any chance that she has gone home--to Dudley?
Perhaps her father is ill, and she was sent for." Patty admitted this possibility, but with every sign of doubt.
"The landlady said she had a letter this morning." "Did she?
Then it may have been from Dudley.

But you know her so much better than I do.

Of course, you mustn't tell me anything you don't feel it right to speak of; still, did it occur to you that I could be of any use ?" "No, I didn't think; I only came because I was so upset when I found her gone.