again.

"At dawn, after a sleepless night, I went to Karen's room to take
her in my arms and to ask her pardon for my harsh words. She was
gone. Gone, my friend. Tallie tells me that she believed me to have
said that unless she could obey me I must forbid her to remain
under my roof. These were not my words; but she had misunderstood
and had fiercely resented my displeasure. She told Tallie that she
would go to the Lippheims,--for them, as I have told you, she has a
deep affection. Tallie urged upon her that she should communicate
with her husband, let him know what had happened, return to
him--even if it were to blacken me in his eyes--and would to God
that it had been so!--But she repulsed the suggestion with
bitterness. It must also have filled her with terror lest we should
ourselves make some further attempt to bring about a
reconciliation; for it was in the night, and immediately after her
talk with Tallie, that she went, although she and Tallie had
arranged that she was to go to the Lippheims next day.

"We have wired to the Lippheims and find that they have left
England. And we have wired to Mr. Jardine, and she is not with him.
She may be on her way to Germany; she may be concealed in the
country near here; she may be in London. Unless we have news of her
to-morrow I send for a detective. Oh, to hold her in my arms! I am
crushed to the earth with sorrow and remorse. Show this letter to
her husband. I have no thought of pride.

"Your devoted and unhappy Mercedes."

Mrs. Talcott read and remained for some moments reflecting after she had
read. "Well, I suppose that's got to do," she commented, "though I don't
call it a satisfactory letter. You've fixed it up real smart, but it's a
long way off the truth."

Madame von Marwitz, while Mrs. Talcott read, had been putting back the
disordered strands of her hair, adjusting her laces, and dabbing vaguely
with her handkerchief at the splashes of ink that disfigured the front
of her dress--thereby ruining the handkerchief; she looked up sharply
now.

"I deny that it is a long way off the truth."

"A long way off," Mrs. Talcott repeated colourlessly; "but I guess it'll
have to do. I'm willing you should make the best story out for yourself
you can to your friends, so long as Karen knows the truth and so long as
you don't spread scandal about her.