Page:The Semi-detached House.djvu/322

314 She burst into a passion of tears, and flinging her arms round Mrs. Hopkinson's neck, she sobbed out, "Ah! I shall be better now, I thought you would come to me."

"Of course, my dear, I am come to you and for you," said Mrs. Hopkinson cheerfully. "This is no place for you, John will be here directly to take care of your property, and you must come home with me. The girls are getting your room ready, and the sooner we go the better. When did the knowledge of all this come upon you?"

"Not till this morning; I was deceived to the last. After the party was over I went up-stairs to see how my aunt was, and her maid met me and said her lady had such a bad headache she wished to keep quite quiet in her own room. At that moment she must have been on the railroad leaving England for ever. "This morning, I found this note on her table, and that is all I know."

"Dear Rachel,

"By a combination of untoward events,