Mabel never reflected on the possibility of her own words causing annoyance.  She ate her breakfast without observing that both her mother and Catherine looked depressed.  Presently, like the thoughtless child she was, she looked up with laughing eyes: 

“Won’t the Bells look funny in those grand robes.  Do you know, Kate, I heard such a ridiculous thing yesterday.  It was Mrs. Gorman Stanley who told me.  She said Matty Bell was over head and ears in love with Loftie, and that Mrs. Bell had quite made up her mind that Loftie was to marry Mattie.  She told such a funny story of the way Mrs. Butler broke the news of Beatrice’s engagement to the Bells.  Now, what’s up?  Have I said anything wrong again?”

“You have, Mabel,” said her mother.  “You have been guilty of repeating common and vulgar gossip.  You ought never to have listened to it.  I had hoped that a daughter of mine, a Bertram, too, would have inspired too much respect to have any such rubbish spoken of in her presence.”

“Oh, really, mother, I don’t think people much care whether we are Bertrams or not.”

“Hush, my dear, that is sufficient.  I always feared the effect of the low society of this place on you both, and in especial on you, Mabel.  My fears have been justified by the results.  As soon as Loftus’s wedding is over we will return to our seclusion, my dears.”

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE LIGHTS WERE DIM.

Early on that very morning Miss Hart tapped at Mrs. Bell’s door.  That good lady was not fully dressed, but she appeared in a voluminous morning robe to answer her young visitor’s summons.

“I am going away, Mrs. Bell,” said Miss Hart.

“Oh, my dear!” Mrs. Bell’s full-moon face turned absolutely pale.  “Going away, my love!” she said.  She thought of her private hoard, not nearly large enough, and her voice became absolutely pathetic.  “Going away, Miss Hart?  I’m truly grieved to hear it.  And haven’t I made you comfortable enough, my poor dear?”

“Oh, you misunderstand me, Mrs. Bell.  I am going away, but only for a little—­just for a day or two.  I don’t know exactly when I shall be back, but probably in a day or two.  I am going by the early train, and I tapped at your door to say good-bye.”

Then Mrs. Bell in her delight and joy kissed Miss Hart, who soon afterwards left the house.

She walked to the station, the hour was early, and there was no special person about.  She took a first-class ticket to a small town about thirty miles away, and immediately afterwards her train came up.

During the greater part of her journey Miss Hart had the compartment to herself.  By-and-bye fellow-passengers got in, who almost started back at the sight of the pale face of the girl, who sat with her veil thrown back, looking straight out of the open window.

There was a strange expression on her face; her brows were slightly drawn together, and the curves of her lips had a, weary and pathetic droop.  She had taken off her gloves, and now and then she clasped her slender white hands together with a nervous, passionate tension.  Then the look in her eyes became almost ugly, and her fellow passengers were uncomfortable as they watched her.