Page:Milady at Arms (1937).pdf/341

 "This be Sally, Margot," said Mistress Van Houten, smiling at the girl.

Lady Holden leaned forward to scan the girl's face. "Sally—what?" she asked in a strange kind of breathless voice.

"Just Sally," answered the girl, low-toned and glancing in embarrassment at the others. But the other guests were conversing among themselves. Mistress Van Houten had turned away, and Lady Holden and Sally were alone.

Suddenly the former seized Sally's face between two cold hands, looked fiercely into her eyes and, releasing her, sank back with a hopeless gesture. "Trevor!" she called, drops of moisture starting out upon her forehead.

Hardly had his wife breathed his name when Lord Holden was at her side.

"Trevor!" Lady Holden took his hand and held it tightly clasped in hers as she looked up at him pleadingly. "Find—out—about—this girl! Ah, she might be"—her face whitened as she saw the angry frown come into his blue eyes—"ye never can tell!—she might be—Constance!"

"Nay, Margot!" Lord Holden looked down at her sternly. "Ye know what ye promised me when I said ye might come to America wi' me! I ha' no time to follow silly notions o' yours!"

"But that May day—" Lady Holden spoke