'And whom has she persuaded to take her—Charles Crispin?' she added.
'We suppose—we suppose———' said Laura.
'And he's another,' interrupted the old woman. 'And who supposes—Geordie and Ferdy?'
'I don't know; it's all black darkness!'
'My dear, it's a blessing, and now you can live in peace.'
'In peace!' cried Laura; 'with my wretched sister leading such a life?'
'Oh, my dear, I daresay it will be very comfortable; I am sorry to say anything in favour of such doings, but it very often is. Don't worry; you take her too hard. Has she gone abroad?' the old lady continued. 'I daresay she has gone to some pretty, amusing place.'
'I don't know anything about it. I only know she is gone. I was with her last evening and she left me without a word.'
'Well, that was better. I hate 'em when they make parting scenes: it's too mawkish!'
'Lionel has people watching them,' said the girl; 'agents, detectives, I don't know what. He has had them for a long time; I didn't know it.'
'Do you mean you would have told her if you had? What is the use of detectives now? Isn't he rid of her?'
'Oh, I don't know, he's as bad as she; he talks too horribly—he wants every one to know it,' Laura groaned.
'And has he told his mother?'
'I suppose so: he rushed off to see her at noon. She'll be overwhelmed.'
'Overwhelmed? Not a bit of it!' cried Lady
