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220 didn't know it, but would like to learn. All the same, I was rather inquisitive to her this morning, and she 'upped' answered me back."

The whole thing had only lasted a moment. Then Cathie quietly up, bitterly blaming herself, poor dear! for not having done so sooner. The door into the drawing-room by which she had come in was close to her, and she could escape through that, provided she could open it noiselessly without betraying her presence. She had heard more than enough: she could not bear to hear more.

She went quickly up to her bedroom, and found it comfortably prepared for evening. The curtains were drawn, the fire prospered in the grate, and she sat quite quiet a moment, but that her hands trembled a little. Sentence after sentence of what she had heard repeated itself in her brain. They were going to get her to tell the tale of the Mayor's daughter again; Lucia was furious; Lucia had not wanted her to come; it was good that other people should have such aunts; Lucia had thought of getting something green spilled on her dress. It was not that the dress outshone them all; it was that the dress was ridiculous, that she was ridiculous. There was no question about that.

Cathie did not cry easily, but a couple of small difficult tears rolled down her cheeks. She had—in spite of the strangeness—been enjoying herself so much: it was so exciting and wonderful, and, as she had said, she would not have missed it for a hundred pounds. And she had thought that she and the dress and the story had been such a success. But it was all a mistake; Lucia was furious, and had never wanted her to come at all.

But what was to be done? One thing she knew was quite impossible: she could not meet Lucia and her guests again. Cathie had her share of courage, but that ordeal was unfaceable; she could not consider the possibility of it. Nor could she even tell Lucia she must go away; somehow she had to get out of the house without Lucia's knowing it. Perhaps she might write a note to her, which should be delivered after she had gone. Then gradually a plan began to form itself.

Before very long she rang her bell for Arbuthnot. She, too, it seemed, was as curious a figure in the room as her mistress was upstairs, though the braces and apron were quite new. She appeared in them now.

"Jane," said Cathie, "I find I must get home at once. I am going to put on my things, and I shall walk to the station. We