Out of her sphere - University Library

HOW CLARE WAITED. 113
caused a great deal of excitement and
gossip. Every one blamed her and pitied
him ; but it seemed now as if, after all,
there might be more of a tragedy connected
with her fate than had been imagined.
The Mayor—Mr. Goderich—a well-to-do
brewer, who had met Mrs. Thornton occa-
sionally, and had formed his own surmises
—not a bit more charitable than other
people's— respecting her absence — was
puzzled by this letter. What traces could
there be found of the missing lady, under
the stones of the old Fort, but such as
would show that a more serious crime had
been committed than had been dreamed of
He felt shy of acting on his own respon-
sibility, but promptly called a meeting of
his brother magistrates, and they were
unanimous in agreeing that the letter was
at least deserving of attention, and that the
stones which had fallen in of the old Fort
should be removed, and a search instituted
VOL. III. 8
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