!" exclaimed Mrs. Cross. "I had very much rather have let
to people we know I suppose he's seen a house that suits him better."

"I think there's another reason," said Bertha, after gazing for a
minute or two at the scribbled, careless note. "The marriage is put
off."

"And you knew that," cried her mother, "all the time, and never told
me! And I might have missed twenty chances of letting. Really, Bertha,
I never did see anything like you. There's that house standing empty
month after month, and we hardly know where to turn for money, and you
knew that Mr. Franks wouldn't take it, and yet you say not a word! How
can you behave in such an extraordinary way? I think you really find
pleasure in worrying me. Any one would fancy you wished to see me in my
grave. To think that you knew all the time!"

CHAPTER 12

There passed a fortnight. Bertha heard nothing more of Miss Elvan, till
a letter arrived one morning in an envelope, showing on the back an
address at Teddington. Rosamund wrote that she had just returned from
Switzerland, and was staying for a few days with friends; would it be
possible for Bertha to come to Teddington the same afternoon, for an
hour or two's talk? The writer had so much to say that could not be
conveyed in a letter, and longed above all things to see Bertha, the
only being in whom, at a very grave juncture in her life, she could
absolutely confide. "We shall be quite alone--Mr. and Mrs. Capron are
going to town immediately after lunch. This is a lovely place, and we
shall have it to ourselves all the afternoon. So don't be frightened--I
know how you hate strangers--but come, come, come!"

Bertha took train early in the afternoon. By an avenue of elms she
passed into a large and beautiful garden, and so came to the imposing
front door. Led into the drawing-room, she had time to take breath, and
to gaze at splendours such as she had never seen before; then with
soundless footfall, entered a slim, prettily-dressed girl who ran
towards her, and caught her hands, and kissed her with graceful
tenderness.

"My dear, dear old Bertha! What a happiness to see you again! How good
of you to come! Isn't it a lovely place? And the nicest people. You've
heard me speak of Miss Anderton, of Bath. She is Mrs. Capron--married
half a year ago. And they're just going to Egypt for a year, and--what
do you think?--I'm going with them."

Rosamund's voice sunk and faltered. She stood holding Bertha's hands