dn't wonder, after
this, if poor Mrs. Tailleur's room were wanted to-morrow."

"Oh, do you think they'll turn her out?"

She was a kind woman and she could not bear to think it would come to
that.

The Colonel was silent. He was sitting on the bed, watching his wife as
she undid the fastenings of her gown. At that moment a certain brief and
sudden sin of his youth rose up before him. It looked at him pitifully,
reproachfully, with the eyes of Mrs. Tailleur.

"I wish," said Mrs. Hankin, "we hadn't said anything at all."

"So do I," said the Colonel. But for the life of him he couldn't help
saying something more. "If she goes," he said, "I rather think that
young fellow will go, too."

"And the sister?"

"Oh, the sister, I imagine, will remain."

CHAPTER VIII

Kitty was dressed. She was calling out to her companion, "Bunny, hurry
up, you'll be late." No answer came from the adjoining room. She tapped
at the door and there was no answer. She tried to open the door. It was
locked on the inside. "Bunny," she cried, "are you there?" She laid her
ear to the panel. There was the sound of a box being dragged across the
floor.

"You _are_ there, are you? Why don't you answer? I can't hear you. Why
can't you open the door?"

Miss Keating unlocked the door. She held it ajar and spoke through the
aperture.

"Be good enough," she said, "to leave me alone."

"All right; but you'll be awfully late for dinner."

"I am not coming down to dinner."

Miss Keating shut the door, but she did not lock it.

Kitty gave a cry of distress.

"Bunny, what _is_ the matter? Let me in--do let me in."

"You can come in if you like."

Kitty opened the door. But instead of going in, she stood fixed upon the
threshold, struck dumb by what she saw.

The room was in disorder. Clothes littered the bed. More clothes were
heaped on the floor around an open trunk. Miss Keating was kneeling on
the floor seizing on things and thrusting them into the trunk. Their
strangled, tortured forms witnessed to the violence of her mood.

"What _are_ you doing?"

"You can see what I'm doing. I am packing my things."

"Why?"

"Because I am going away."

"Have you had bad news? Is--is anybody dead?"

"I wouldn't ask any questions if I were you."

"I must ask some. You know, people _don't_ walk off like this without
giving any reason."

"I am surprised at your asking for my reason."

"Sur--prised," said Kitty softly. "Are you going