A New Home

           Laterthatday,thenewsbegantospreadthattheHeadmistresshadrecoveredfromherfainting-fitandhadthenmarchedoutoftheschoolbuildingtight-lippedandwhiteintheface.

           Thenextmorningshedidnotturnupatschool.Atlunchtime,Mr.Trilby,theDeputyHead,telephonedherhousetoenquireifshewasfeelingunwell.Therewasnoanswertothephone.

           Whenschoolwasover,Mr.Trilbydecidedtoinvestigatefurther,sohewalkedtothehousewhereMissTrunchbulllivedontheedgeofthevillage,thelovelysmallred-brickGeorgianbuildingknownasTheRedHouse,tuckedawayinthewoodsbehindthehills.

           Herangthebell.Noanswer.

           Heknockedloudly.Noanswer.

           Hecalledout,"Isanybodyathome?"Noanswer.

           Hetriedthedoorandtohissurprisefounditunlocked.Hewentin.

           Thehousewassilentandtherewasnooneinit,andyetallthefurniturewasstillinplace.Mr.Trilbywentupstairstothemainbedroom.Herealsoeverythingseemedtobenormaluntilhestartedopeningdrawersandlookingintocupboards.Therewerenoclothesorunderclothesorshoesanywhere.Theyhadallgone.

           She’sdoneabunk,Mr.TrilbysaidtohimselfandhewentawaytoinformtheSchoolGovernorsthattheHeadmistresshadapparentlyvanished.

           Onthesecondmorning,MissHoneyreceivedbyregisteredpostaletterfromafirmoflocalsolicitorsinformingherthatthelastwillandtestamentofherlatefather,DrHoney,hadsuddenlyandmysteriouslyturnedup.