, every
penny.'

The natural impulse of Emmeline's disposition was to reply with
hospitable kindliness; she found it very difficult to maintain her
purpose; it shamed her to behave like the ordinary landlady, to
appear actuated by mean motives. But the domestic strain was growing
intolerable, and she felt sure that Clarence would be exasperated if
her weakness prolonged it.

'Now do let me advise you, Louise,' she answered gently. 'Are you
acting wisely? Wouldn't it be very much better to go home?',

Louise lost all her self-control. Flushed with anger, her eyes
glaring, she broke into vehement exclamations.

'You want to get rid of me! Very well, I'll go this moment. I was
going to tell you something; but you don't care what becomes of me.
I'll send for my luggage; you shan't be troubled with it long. And
you'll be paid all that's owing. I didn't think you were one of that
kind. I'll go this minute.'

'Just as you please,' said Emmeline, 'Your temper is really so
very--'

'Oh, I know. It's always my temper, and nobody else is ever to
blame. I wouldn't stay another night in the house, if I had to sleep
on the Downs!'

She flung out of the room and flew upstairs. Emmeline, angered by
this unwarrantable treatment, determined to hold aloof, and let the
girl do as she would. Miss Derrick was of full age, and quite
capable of taking care of herself, or at all events ought to be.
Perhaps this was the only possible issue of the difficulties in
which they had all become involved; neither Louise nor her parents
could be dealt with in the rational, peaceful way preferred by
well-conditioned people. To get her out of the house was the main
point; if she chose to depart in a whirlwind, that was her own
affair. All but certainly she would go home, to-morrow if not
to-day.

In less than a quarter of an hour her step sounded on the
stairs--would she turn into the dining-room, where Emmeline now sat
at table? No; straight through the hall, and out at the front door,
which closed, however, quite softly behind her. That she did not
slam it seemed wonderful to Emmeline. The girl was not wholly a
savage.

Presently Mrs. Mumford went up to inspect the forsaken chamber.
Louise had packed all her things: of course she must have tumbled
them recklessly into the trunks. Drawers were left open, as if to
exhibit their emptiness, but in other respects the room looked tidy
enough. Neatness and order came by no means naturally to Miss