.
"Shot hisself in the City;--laws! You'll excuse me, sir, but we all
know'd as master was coming to no good." But she promised to do her
best with her mistress,--and kept her promise. It is seldom that
servants are not good in such straits as that.

From Mrs. Broughton's house Dalrymple went directly to Mrs. Van
Siever's, and learned that Musselboro had been there about half an
hour before, and had then gone off in a cab with Mrs. Van Siever. It
was now nearly four o'clock in the afternoon, and no one in the house
knew when Mrs. Van Siever would be back. Miss Van Siever was out,
and had been out when Mr. Musselboro had called, but was expected in
every minute. Conway therefore said that he would call again, and
on returning found Clara alone. She had not then heard a word of
the fate of Dobbs Broughton. Of course she would go at once to Mrs
Broughton, and if necessary stay with her during the night. She wrote
a line at once to her mother, saying where she was, and went across
to Mrs. Broughton leaning on Dalrymple's arm. "Be good to her," said
Conway, as he left her at the door. "I will," said Clara. "I will be
as kind as my nature will allow me." "And remember," said Conway,
whispering into her ear as he pressed her hand at leaving her, "that
you are all the world to me." It was perhaps not a proper time for an
expression of love, but Clara Van Siever forgave the impropriety.

CHAPTER LXV

Miss Van Siever Makes Her Choice

Clara Van Siever did stay all night with Mrs. Broughton. In the course
of the evening she received a note from her mother, in which she was
told to come home to breakfast. "You can go back to her afterwards,"
said Mrs. Van Siever; "and I will see her myself in the course of the
day, if she will let me." The note was written on a scrap of paper,
and had neither beginning nor end; but this was after the manner of
Mrs. Van Siever, and Clara was not in the least hurt or surprised. "My
mother will come to see you after breakfast," said Clara, as she was
taking her leave.

"Oh, goodness! And what shall I say to her?"

"You will have to say very little. She will speak to you."

"I suppose everything belongs to her now," said Mrs. Broughton.

"I know nothing about that. I never do know anything of mamma's money
matters."

"Of course she'll turn me out. I do not mind a bit about that,--only
I hope she'll let me have some mourning." Then she made Clara promise
that she would return as soon