The fact that the branch of his firm with which he had frequent business correspondence, had not received the least intelligence of him for several weeks, left no doubt of the mournful truth.

Something had gone wrong in the shipping of certain goods, which had required his immediate presence; they had therefore written and telegraphed to him repeatedly, but there had been no reply.

Day by day the ominous silence had shaded into alarm, had deepened into suspense, had grown into certainty.
Mr.Breynton had fought against conviction as long as he could, had clung to all possibilities and impossibilities of doubt, but even he had given up all hope.
Dead--dead, without a sign; without one last word to the child waiting for him across the seas; without one last kiss or blessing; dead by ruffian hands, lying now in an unknown, lonely grave.

It seemed to Joy as if her heart must break.

She tried to fly from the horrible, haunting thought, to forget it in her dreams, to drown it in her books and play.
But she could not leave it; it would not leave her.