ng. Now it's all up with us; we'll never
be asked here again; and the chances are she'll cut us out of her will
as well. Why did you do it? Oh, I could shake you!"

"I know well you would if you could," Sally admitted calmly.
"Only--better not try."

"But why--?"

"Well, if you must know, Mrs. Gosnold overheard you three plotting
together out there just before I came on the scene. She was at
the window overhead, listening through the shutters. I don't know what
you were talking about--she didn't tell me--but it was enough to make
her insist on my giving her my costume so that she might go and hear
the rest of it."

Mrs. Standish bit her lip. And her eyes shifted uneasily from Sally's
face.

"You haven't seen her since--"

"No," Sally answered bluntly. "Have you?"

"No. Walter and I have both been looking for her as well as you.
That's why he ran when he knew about this terrible mistake; he wanted
to find her and set things straight if he could. But she"--the woman
stumbled and her eyes shifted again--"she's gone and hidden
herself--plotting our humiliation and punishment, I dare say. I only
wish I knew. Walter is still hunting everywhere for her. See here: I
presume you understand you've got to go now?"

"Why?"

"For one good reason--if what has happened isn't enough to persuade
you--because there will be a man here from New York by the first
boat--seven o'clock to-morrow morning--with a warrant for the arrest
of Sarah Manvers."

"Are you telling the truth, Mrs. Standish?"

"How dare you! No, I won't let you make me lose my temper with
your insolence. The matter is too serious, and I've no wish to see you
suffer, even if you have ruined everything for us. You must listen to
me, Miss Manvers: be advised and go. I don't know what put them on
your trail, what made them suspect you were here, but the
burglary-insurance people had the warrant sworn out yesterday
afternoon and started a man up by the evening boat. Walter got a
telegram to that effect about ten o'clock. That's what he wanted to
say to you--that, and to give you some money and directions for
getting away."

"But why should I leave?"

"Do you want to go to jail?"

"Not much. But I don't see why I need. You can easily explain that my
things in the bath-room were left there with your knowledge at the
time when you took pity on me and gave me a change of clothing to
travel in."

"It's too late. If we had explained it that way, to begin with,