Mrs. Willoughby turned away with a gesture of despair.

An hour or two after some letters were brought in, one of which was addressed to

Miss FAY,

Poste Restante,

Roma.

Minnie opened this, and looked over it with a troubled air.  Then she spoke to her sister, and they both went off to Minnie’s room.

“Who do you think this is from?” she asked.

“Oh, I don’t know!  Of course it’s some more trouble.”

“It’s from Captain Kirby.”

“Oh, of course!  And of course he’s here in Rome?”

“No, he isn’t.”

“What!  Not yet?”

“No; but he wrote this from London.  He has been to the house, and learned that we had gone to Italy.  He says he has sent off letters to me, directed to every city in Italy, so that I may be sure to get it.  Isn’t that good of him?”

“Well?” asked Mrs. Willoughby, repressing an exclamation of vexation.

“Well, he says that in three days he will leave, and go first to Rome, as he thinks we will be most likely to be there this season.  And so, you see, he’s coming on; and he will be here in three days, you know.”

“Minnie,” said her sister, after some moments’ solemn thought.

“Well, Kitty darling?”

“Do you ever think?”

“I don’t know.”

“Would you like one of these gentlemen of yours to blow one of the others’ brains out, or stab him, or any thing of that sort?”

“How shocking you are, Kitty dear!  What a dreadful question!”

“Well, understand me now.  One of them will do that.  There will be trouble, and your name will be associated with it.”

“Well,” said Minnie, “I know who won’t be shot.”

“Who?”

“Why, Rufus K. Gunn,” said she, in the funny, prim way in which she always pronounced that name.  “If he finds it out, he’ll drive all the others away.”

“And would you like that?”

“Well, you know, he’s awfully fond of me, and he’s so like a boy:  and if I’m such a child, I could do better with a man, you know, that’s like a boy, you know, than—­than—­”

“Nonsense!  He’s a madman, and you’re a simpleton, you little goose.”

“Well, then, we must be well suited to one another,” said Minnie.

“Now, child, listen,” said Mrs. Willoughby, firmly.  “I intend to put a stop to this.  I have made up my mind positively to leave Rome, and take you home to papa.  I’ll tell him all about it, put you under his care, and have no more responsibility with you.  I think he’d better send you back to school.  I’ve been too gentle.  You need a firm hand.  I’ll be firm for a few days, till you can go to papa.  You need not begin to cry.  It’s for your own good.  If you’re indulged any more, you’ll simply go to ruin.”

Mrs. Willoughby’s tone was different from usual, and Minnie was impressed by it.  She saw that her sister was resolved.  So she stole up to her and twined her arms about her and kissed her.