When the proposal first reached Miss Abigail, she rejected it without hesitation; she would not hear of it.  Curiously enough, Lois suddenly appeared violently anxious to go.  But following the suggestion came an invitation from Norman’s mother asking Miss Abigail to pay her a long visit.  She needed her, she said, and she asked as a favor that she would let Lois accept her daughter-in-law’s invitation.  So Miss Abby consented.  “The Lawns” was shut up for the winter, and the two ladies went up to New York.

As Norman left for the West the very day that Lois was installed, she had no knowledge of the condition of affairs in that unhappy household, except what Gossip whispered about her.  This would have been more than enough, but for the fact that the girl stiffened as soon as any one approached the subject, and froze even such veterans as Mrs. Nailor.

Mrs. Wentworth was far too proud to refer to it.  All Lois knew, therefore, was that there was trouble and she was there to help tide it over, and she meant, if she could, to make it up.  Meanwhile, Mrs. Wentworth was very kind, if formal, to her, and the children, delighted to get rid of the former governess, whom they insisted in describing as an “old cat,” were her devoted slaves.

Yet Lois was not as contented as she had fondly expected to be.

She learned soon after her arrival that one object of her visit to New York would be futile.  She would not see Mr. Keith.  He had gone abroad.—­“In pursuit of Mrs. Lancaster,” said Mrs. Nailor; for Lois was willing enough to hear all that lady had to say on this subject, and it was a good deal.  “You know, I believe she is going to marry him.  She will unless she can get a title.”

“I do not believe a title would make any difference to her,” said Lois, rather sharply, glad to have any sound reason for attacking Mrs. Nailor.

“Oh, don’t you believe it!  She’d snap one up quick enough if she had the chance.”

“She has had a plenty of chances,” asserted Lois.

“Well, it may serve Mr. Keith a good turn.  He looked very low down for a while last Spring—­just after that big Creamer ball.  But he had quite perked up this Fall, and, next thing I heard, he had gone over to England after Alice Lancaster, who is spending the winter there.  It was time she went, too, for people were beginning to talk a good deal of the way she ran after Norman Wentworth.”

“I must go,” said Lois, suddenly rising; “I have to take the children out.”

“Poor dears!” sighed Mrs. Nailor.  “I am glad they have some one to look after them.”  Lois’s sudden change prevented any further condolence.  Fortunately, Mrs. Nailor was too much delighted with the opportunity to pour her information into quite fresh ears to observe Lois’s expression.

* * * * *

The story of the trouble between Mr. and Mrs. Wentworth was soon public property.  Wickersham’s plans appeared to him to be working out satisfactorily.  Louise Wentworth must, he felt, care for him to sacrifice so much for him.  In this assumption he let down the barriers of prudence which he had hitherto kept up, and, one evening when the opportunity offered, he openly declared himself.  To his chagrin and amazement, she appeared to be shocked and even to resent it.