She spoke at random, and might have
imparted the same impression of mental irresponsibility that she had
given Mr. Middleton.

"She hasn't any grandmother. She never had one. And she isn't----"

"Oh, _Moss_, I have it!" exclaimed Miss Pritchard. "You're the mother
of Elsie's friend at Enderby--though I believed her to be an orphan all
this time."

"I am Elsie's stepmother, and she isn't your cousin at all," declared
Mrs. Moss sadly. "She's only a very naughty girl playing a trick on
you."

Then for the first time Miss Pritchard spoke sternly to Elsie.

"If this is a trick, a part of your stage business, won't you please
bring it to a close right here!" she demanded. "It has gone too far
already."

"My dear Miss Pritchard, will you allow me to explain?" said Mrs. Moss.
Then she turned to the girl. "Or will you do it, Elsie? I went to
Enderby to see you and found that other girl and learned the truth from
her."

Elsie drew away a little.

"You tell her, please, auntie, I couldn't," she faltered. She clasped
her hands tightly. Her face was whiter than before.

"Miss Pritchard, if you will have patience and bear with me for a
little, I hope I can make things plain, though I can't make them
right," said Mrs. Moss rather appealingly. "I have just come from
Enderby, Massachusetts, where Elsie's uncle and guardian lives. I got
worried and went there to see about Elsie. I came all the way from
California."

Miss Pritchard stared at her in amazement.

"Oh, auntie!" cried Elsie in distress. Then she went to Miss Pritchard.

"Kiss me just once, Cousin Julia, kiss me hard," she entreated. And
Miss Pritchard clasped her to her heart.

The girl resumed her place on the sofa and sat motionless, her eyes
upon her clasped hands. Mrs. Moss endeavored to get the main fact out.

"I found there instead of this Elsie, instead of Mr. Middleton's own
niece, a strange girl who has lived there since last June as Elsie
Moss. Her first name happened to be Elsie, too, but her last name is
Pritchard--Marley, I should say."

"Oh, Mrs. Moss, I must be stupid, but I cannot understand what you
mean!" cried Miss Pritchard. And Elsie choked.

"I'll begin again," said Mrs. Moss with mournful patience. "A year ago
this Elsie, _my_ Elsie, Elsie Moss, started East to live with her
uncle, John Middleton, in Enderby, Massachusetts. On the train she
fell in with this Marley girl who was coming on to New York to live
with