he had again refused
refreshment or rest, explained. As he did so, it came out that she
knew little or nothing of Elsie's activities, and he launched into
glowing descriptions. And the further he went, the more she marvelled.
She couldn't understand how Elsie had become the sedate, dutiful girl
he portrayed unless some great blow had fallen upon her. Then she
recollected what had brought her hither.

"Elsie has been away lately?" she asked.

"Oh, no, Mrs. Moss, she only went into Boston to do some shopping."

"But she was in New York in May?"

"Why, no," he returned with some surprise. "I'm sorry to say she
hasn't been away overnight since she came. But we have made up our
minds she shall have a change this summer, and now that you are here,
we shall surely be able to put it through. Perhaps you will go to the
shore with her? Of course you will spend the summer with us? Mrs.
Middleton will insist."

Mrs. Moss was too dazed to reply. Indeed, the only statement she had
taken in was that Elsie had not been away since she came. For an
instant she wondered if she could have mistaken. But that could not
be. Surely there were no two girls in the country who would have
selected that particular song and have had peculiar dimples into the
bargain. On the other hand, Elsie couldn't have been in two places at
once. Neither could she have been away without his knowledge. It
wasn't conceivable that he----

It struck her coldly that he was not in his right mind--that this
handsome, courteous gentleman was mildly insane. In spite of his fine
manner and bearing, his every word had been irrational. She hazarded
one last question.

"Has Elsie said anything--shown any interest in the stage?"

As she spoke, there was a curious expression on her face--it seemed to
him so watchful as to be almost furtive. He began to suspect that
something was wrong. She was certainly overwrought and almost
hysterical--beyond anything the journey would bring about. Possibly
that was the explanation of the mystery. Elsie had rarely spoken of
her stepmother. Perhaps her husband's death had unbalanced her mind?

Whereupon he murmured something soothingly and courteously evasive that
confirmed Mrs. Moss in her suspicion with regard to him, his mind was
wandering now; he had illusions, without doubt. Quite likely Elsie was
now in New York, and he constantly believed her to be in Boston for the
day, coming back in time for the libr