many
things. However, the matter of the amethyst comb was uppermost in her
mind. She was wild with curiosity. She hardly dared inquire, but finally
she did.

"About the amethyst comb, ma'am?" she said, with a delicate cough.

"What about it, Margaret?" returned Jane, severely.

"I thought perhaps Mrs. Longstreet had told you how she happened to have
it."

Poor Jane Carew had nobody in whom to confide. For once she spoke her
mind to her maid. "She has not said one word. And, oh, Margaret, I don't
know what to think of it."

Margaret pursed her lips.

"What do YOU think, Margaret?"

"I don't know. Miss Jane."

"I don't."

"I did not mention it to Louisa," said Margaret.

"Oh, I hope not!" cried Jane.

"But she did to me," said Margaret. "She asked had I seen Miss Viola's
new comb, and then she laughed, and I thought from the way she acted
that--" Margaret hesitated.

"That what?"

"That she meant Mr. Lind had given Miss Viola the comb."

Jane started violently. "Absolutely impossible!" she cried. "That,
of course, is nonsense. There must be some explanation. Probably Mrs.
Longstreet will explain before we go."

Mrs. Longstreet did not explain. She wondered and expostulated when Jane
announced her firm determination to leave, but she seemed utterly at a
loss for the reason. She did not mention the comb.

When Jane Carew took leave of her old friend she was entirely sure in
her own mind that she would never visit her again--might never even see
her again.

Jane was unutterably thankful to be back in her own peaceful home, over
which no shadow of absurd mystery brooded; only a calm afternoon light
of life, which disclosed gently but did not conceal or betray. Jane
settled back into her pleasant life, and the days passed, and the weeks,
and the months, and the years. She heard nothing whatever from or about
Viola Longstreet for three years. Then, one day, Margaret returned from
the city, and she had met Viola's old maid Louisa in a department store,
and she had news. Jane wished for strength to refuse to listen, but she
could not muster it. She listened while Margaret brushed her hair.

"Louisa has not been with Miss Viola for a long time," said Margaret.
"She is living with somebody else. Miss Viola lost her money, and had to
give up her house and her servants, and Louisa said she cried when she
said good-by."

Jane made an effort. "What became of--" she began.

Margaret answered the unfinished se