at Miss Laniston without comprehending what I had heard.

"No House of Martha!" I ejaculated.

"That is precisely the state of the case," she answered; "the
establishment was dissolved at noon yesterday. As I had had all the
trouble of bringing this thing about, I considered that I had a right to
tell you of it myself. I thought it would interest me to see how you
took it."

I rose to my feet; I stepped towards her.

"No House of Martha," I gasped,--"and Sylvia?"

"Sylvia will go home to her mother, so she told me yesterday. I was
present at the dissolution. I think she will probably come to the city
this afternoon."

I snatched up my hat. "I must go to her instantly," I said. "I must see
her before she reaches her mother. I have lost time already."

"Upon my word!" exclaimed Miss Laniston, "your way of taking it is
indeed interesting. Not a word of thanks, not a sign of recognition"--

I had nearly reached the door, but now rushed back and seized her by the
hand. "Excuse me," I said, "but you can see for yourself"--and with one
violent shake I dropped her hand, and hurried away.

"Oh, yes," she cried, "I can easily see for myself," and as I left the
house I heard her hearty laugh.

I sprang into my cab, ordering the man to drive fast for the railroad
station. It mattered not to me whether Walkirk went to Europe or not.
All I cared for was to catch the next train which would take me to
Arden.

XLVIII.

IN A COLD, BARE ROOM.

When I reached Arden I took one of the melancholy vehicles which stand
at our station, and very much astonished the driver by ordering him to
take me, not to my own home, but to the House of Martha.

"You know they're busted up, sir," said the man, turning to me, as his
old horse hurried us along at the best of his speed.

"But the sisters have not left?" I eagerly asked.

"Not all," he said, "but two or three of them went down this morning."

"Drive on quicker," I replied, "I am in a hurry."

The man gave the horse a crack with his whip, which made no difference
whatever in our rate of speed, and said:--

"If you've got a bill agin any of them, sir, you needn't worry. The
Mother is still there, and she's all right, you know."

"Bill? Nonsense!" said I.

"I'm sorry they're busted," said the man; "they didn't do much hackin',
but they give us a lot of haulin' from the station."

As I hurried up the broad path which led to the front of the House of
Martha, I found t