I found its owner pensively strolling in the grounds.
'Is your sister gone ?' were my first words as I grasped his hand, instead of the usual inquiry after his health.
'Yes, she's gone,' was his answer, so calmly spoken that my terror was at once removed.
'I suppose I mayn't know where she is ?' said I, as I dismounted, and relinquished my horse to the gardener, who, being the only servant within call, had been summoned by his master, from his employment of raking up the dead leaves on the lawn, to take him to the stables.
My companion gravely took my arm, and leading me away to the garden, thus answered my question,--'She is at Grassdale Manor, in -- shire.' 'Where ?' cried I, with a convulsive start.
'At Grassdale Manor.' 'How was it ?' I gasped.

'Who betrayed her ?' 'She went of her own accord.' 'Impossible, Lawrence! She could not be so frantic!' exclaimed I, vehemently grasping his arm, as if to force him to unsay those hateful words.
'She did,' persisted he in the same grave, collected manner as before; 'and not without reason,' he continued, gently disengaging himself from my grasp.

'Mr.Huntingdon is ill.' 'And so she went to nurse him ?' 'Yes.' 'Fool!' I could not help exclaiming, and Lawrence looked up with a rather reproachful glance.

'Is he dying, then ?' 'I think not, Markham.' 'And how many more nurses has he?
How many ladies are there besides to take care of him ?' 'None; he was alone, or she would not have gone.' 'Oh, confound it! This is intolerable!' 'What is?
That he should be alone ?' I attempted no reply, for I was not sure that this circumstance did not partly conduce to my distraction.

I therefore continued to pace the walk in silent anguish, with my hand pressed to my forehead; then suddenly pausing and turning to my companion, I impatiently exclaimed, 'Why did she take this infatuated step?
What fiend persuaded her to it ?' 'Nothing persuaded her but her own sense of duty.' 'Humbug!' 'I was half inclined to say so myself, Markham, at first.