ost startling remark. My dear, I
don't object to holding your hand while you're pouring forth the tale
of woe. How and where, Miss Slowcum, did the child meet her death?"

Meanwhile, during this wrangling and fierce disputing, Mrs. Dredge,
more kind-hearted than the others, had left the room. She had gone
into the hall, where Primrose and Jasmine stood side by side. She had
listened to their bewildered and agitated little story, and then
asking them to sit down and wait for her, she had returned to the
parlor.

"Mrs. Flint," she said, "I have been talking to the two elder
Mainwaring girls; they are in the hall. No, Mrs. Mortlock, you can't
see Miss Primrose at present. The girls are in great trouble, for the
little one has gone away, and there seems to be a mystery about it
all. Your niece Sarah seems to be the last person who has seen the
child, Mrs. Flint, and, of course, Miss Primrose and Miss Jasmine want
to talk to her, and she had better go home with them. The friend they
live with, a Miss Egerton, left home this very afternoon to spend a
week in the country, and so the girls are quite defenceless, and have
nobody to consult. That being the case, I'm going back with them also
to their lodgings in a four-wheeler. Sarah Ann, go and fetch a
four-wheeler this instant, and don't stand gaping. Mind, a
four-wheeler, girl, and don't bring a hansom on no account near the
place. Yes, ladies, it's my duty to go with the poor orphans, and go I
will."

While Mrs. Dredge was speaking Mrs. Mortlock ceased to hold Miss
Slowcum's very thin hand. Miss Slowcum's face looked decidedly
jealous, for she would have dearly liked to have been herself in Mrs.
Dredge's interesting and sympathizing position. Mrs. Mortlock raised
her almost sightless eyes to the fat little woman's face, and remarked
in a slightly acid voice--

"I'm obliged to you, Mrs. Dredge, for thinking that in the moment of
trial the sight of me and a sympathizing squeeze from my hand would
have done my continual reader any harm. It's very good-natured of you
to go with the orphan girls, Mrs. Dredge, and I'm glad to think you've
just had the support of your chop to sustain you under the fatigue.
Please remember, Mrs. Dredge, that we lock up the house in this home
at ten o'clock, and no latch-keys allowed. Isn't that so, Mrs. Flint?"

"Under ordinary circumstances, quite so, ma'am," answered Mrs. Flint,
who would not have minded snubbing Miss Slowcum, but was anxious