ened
wide her eyes in surprise. Her mistress did not usually go walking so
early.

"Madame va se promener de si bonne heure?"

"Don't ask questions, Josephine," replied her mistress sharply. "Do as
I tell you. I'm going out of town. Pack my two trunks at once."

"Oui, Madame."

While the girl hurried to carry out her instructions, Virginia went to
her safe, opened it, and, taking out the jewel cases one by one,
carried them into the library, where she piled them high on the table.
Soon there was quite a large heap of dainty boxes of every shape and
color, each bearing the trademark of a fashionable jeweller. For a
full hour the young wife worked steadily, packing and dressing, until
at last nothing more remained to be done.

"Is that everything?" she asked Josephine, pointing to the boxes of
jewelry on the table.

"Oui, Madame! All except those in the safe deposit vault, Madame."

"Oh, yes--I'll give you an order. You will go for them," said her
mistress, going to a desk.

"Oui, Madame."

Virginia was just writing the order on the Safe Deposit Company when
there came a knock on the boudoir door. The maid went to answer.

"Shall I open, Madame?"

"Yes."

The girl opened the door and Fanny entered, fresh and buoyant after a
good night's sleep.

"Good morning!" exclaimed the newcomer cheerfully.

"Good morning, dear," replied Virginia quietly as she finished the
note and put it in an envelope. Handing it to Josephine, she said
quietly: "Give that to John."

"Oui, Madame."

The girl took the note and left the room. Fanny looked inquiringly at
her sister. There was something in her manner which she did not like.
At last she said hesitatingly:

"I'm so sorry about last night, dear."

"Don't, please!" said Virginia, quickly raising her hand.

"Have you seen him this morning?"

"No."

"Then you don't know how he is?"

"Oh, yes, I do."

"How do you know?"

"Previous experience," said Virginia bitterly.

Fanny took both her sister's hands in hers and gently drew her to her
breast as a mother, full of gentle pity, would caress and console an
unhappy child. For a moment Virginia tried to keep back the flood of
tears that were choking her utterance, but the effort was too great
and suddenly, with a stifled moan of distress, she broke into a
torrent of passionate weeping.

Her sister made no attempt to quiet her. She felt it would be useless.
All she did was to stroke her beautiful hair and murmu