living and be hidden and forgotten.

But first she must see Mrs. Talcott. She must say good-bye to Mrs.
Talcott. There was nothing now that Mrs. Talcott could show her.

She went back softly and carefully, pausing to listen, pushing through
unused, overgrown paths and among thickets of gorse and stunted Cornish
elms. In the garden all was still; the dreadful clamour had ceased. By
the back way she stole up to her room.

A form rose to meet her as she opened the door. Mrs. Talcott had been
waiting for her. Taking her hand, Mrs. Talcott drew her in and closed
the door.

CHAPTER XXXVI

Mrs. Talcott sat down on the bed and Karen knelt before her with her
head in her lap. The old woman's passed quietly over her hair while she
wept, and the homely gentleness, like the simplicity of milk to famished
lips, flowed into her horror-haunted mind.

She tried to tell Mrs. Talcott what had happened. "She does not love me,
Mrs. Talcott. She has turned me out. Tante has told me to go."

"I've seen her," said Mrs. Talcott, stroking on. "I was just going out
to look for you if you didn't come in. Did she tear your hair down like
this? It's all undone."

"It was when she shook me, Mrs. Talcott. She found me with Mr. Drew. He
had kissed me. I could not help it. She knew that I could not help it.
She knows that I am not a bad woman."

"You mustn't take Mercedes at her word when she's in a state like that,
Karen. She's in an awful state. She's parted from that young man."

"And I am going, Mrs. Talcott."

"Well, I've wanted you to go, from the first. Now you've found her out,
this ain't any place for you. You can't go hanging on for all your life,
like I've done."

"But Mrs. Talcott--what does it mean? What have I found out? What is
Tante?" Karen sobbed. "For all these years so beautiful--so
beautiful--to me, and suddenly to become my enemy--someone I do not
know."

"You never got in her way before. She's got no mercy, Mercedes hasn't,
if you get in her way. Where'd you thought of going, Karen?"

"To Frau Lippheim. She is still in London, I think. I could join her
there. You could lend me a little money, Mrs. Talcott. Enough to take me
to London."

Mrs. Talcott was silent for a moment. "Come up here, on the bed, Karen,"
she then said. "Here, wrap this cloak around you; you're awful cold.
That's right. Now I want you to sit quiet while I explain things to you
the best I can. I've made up my mind to do it. Mercedes w