Page:Alice Stuyvesant - The Vanity Box.djvu/49

 and die for her, just according as she treats me," Kate persisted obstinately. "Her cold ways make me feel all on fire, often. Perhaps Edward feels like that about me. I hope he does. I like some one else to suffer. And he hates her ladyship, sure enough, because he's sure it's her fault I'm off with him, since she took me on as maid in Liane's place."

"Poor Liane!" murmured Mrs. Barnard. "I wonder if we'll ever know what's become of her."

"Her ladyship suspects," said Kate.

"Does she? The wise woman's curiosity overcame prudence for a moment.

"She thinks—I would ask you never to tell, only I know you never do tell things. She thinks that Mr. Barr had something to do with Liane's disappearance."

"My heavens, Mr. Barr! And he's in love with Miss Verney, as every one knows!"

"Men are strange. You can't tell what they'll do."

"Silly! Yes you can—Mr. Barr doesn't seem like that. What put such an idea in her ladyship's head?"

"I don't know what put it into her head, though they do say that Liane used to be seen walking down to the steward's house, after twilight, more than once before she cleared out, nine or ten weeks ago. Her ladyship may have heard that, or she may have heard more, for all I can tell. But what I do know is, that the idea is in her head, and very strong, too. I've