Every possible inquiry was made, and every place was searched. The brick-kilns were examined, the cottages were visited, the two women were particularly questioned, but they knew nothing of him, and nobody could doubt that their wonder was genuine. The weather had for some time been too wet and the night itself had been too wet to admit of any tracing by footsteps. Hedge and ditch, and wall, and rick and stack, were examined by our men for a long distance round, lest the boy should be lying in such a place insensible or dead; but nothing was seen to indicate that he had ever been near. From the time when he was left in the loft-room, he vanished.
The search continued for five days. I do not mean that it ceased even then, but that my attention was then diverted into a current very memorable to me.
As Charley was at her writing again in my room in the evening, and as I sat opposite to her at work, I felt the table tremble. Looking up, I saw my little maid shivering from head to foot.
"Charley," said I, "are you so cold?"

Every possible inquiry was made. The brick-kilns were searched and the cottages were visited, but the two women knew nothing of him, and nobody could doubt that their wonder was genuine. The night had been too wet to allow any tracing by footsteps. Hedge and ditch were examined by our men for a long distance round, lest the boy should be lying insensible or dead; but he had vanished.
The search continued for five days. It did not cease even then, but my attention was diverted into a current very memorable to me.
As Charley was writing again in my room, and as I sat opposite her, I felt the table tremble. Looking up, I saw my little maid shivering from head to foot.
"Charley," said I, "are you cold?"
