eed my lady, her mother, spoke as if she might never come back, her
marriage being on the _tapis_. Indeed, sir, indeed, madam, I should
most gladly assist you," she said as a gesture of bitter grief and
disappointment passed between father and daughter, both of whom were
evidently persons of condition. "If it will be any satisfaction to the
lady to see all my pupils, I will conduct her through my establishment."

Betty caught at this, though there was no doubt that the mistress was
speaking in good faith. She was led to a large empty room, where a
dozen young ladies were drawn up awaiting the dancing master--girls
from fourteen to seventeen, the elder ones in mob caps, those with more
pretensions to fashion, with loose hair. Their twelve curtsies were
made, their twenty-four eyes peeped more or less through their lashes at
the visitor, but no such soft brown eyes as Aurelia's were among them.

"Madame," said Betty, "may I be permitted to ask the ladies a question?"
She spoke it low, and in French, and her excellent accent won Madame's
heart at once. Only Madame trusted to Mademoiselle's discretion not to
put mysteries into their minds, or they would be all _tete montee_.

So, as discretely as the occasion would permit, Betty asked whether any
one had seen or heard Lady Belle speak of having seen any one--a young
lady?

Half-a-dozen tongues broke out, "We thought it all Lady Belle's
whimsical secrets," and as many stories were beginning, but Madame's
awful little hand waved silence, as she said, "Speak then, Miss
Staunton."

"I know none of Lady Belle's secrets, ma'am--ask Miss Howard."

Miss Howard looked sulky; and a little eager, black-eyed thing cried,
"She said it was an odious girl whom Lady Belamour keeps shut up in a
great dungeon of an old house, and is going to send beyond seas, because
she married two men at once in disguise."

"Fie, Miss Crawford, you know nothing about it."

"You told me so, yourself, Miss Howard."

"I never said anything so foolish."

"Hush, young ladies," said Madame. "Miss Howard, if you know anything, I
request you to speak."

"It would be a great kindness," said Betty. "Might I ask the favour of
seeing Miss Howard in private?"

Madame consented, and Miss Howard followed Betty out of hearing,
muttering that Belle would fly at her for betraying her.

"I do not like asking you to betray your friend's confidence," said
Betty.

"Oh, as to that, I'm not her friend, and I beli