CHAPTER 17.
Some of Mrs.Sharp's earliest thoughts, the next morning, were given to Caterina whom she had not been able to visit the evening before, and whom, from a nearly equal mixture of affection and self-importance, she did not at all like resigning to Mrs.Bellamy's care.

At half-past eight o'clock she went up to Tina's room, bent on benevolent dictation as to doses and diet and lying in bed.

But on opening the door she found the bed smooth and empty.

Evidently it had not been slept in.

What could this mean?
Had she sat up all night, and was she gone out to walk?
The poor thing's head might be touched by what had happened yesterday; it was such a shock--finding Captain Wybrow in that way; she was perhaps gone out of her mind.