when everything was--sort of--_fixed_, you know.
I couldn't bear to break up Elsie Marley's happiness at Enderby, and--I
couldn't bear to have it--hurt you--though I know this is a lot worse.
So I was going to disappear. I had my mind all made up. I was going
to leave a letter so that you wouldn't feel troubled. And I thought
that would sort of make up for everything, because I never would have
been happy again. And then--oh, Cousin Julia, then came that chance
that I knew led straight to the stage, and I lost my head. I chose to
be wicked, and I suppose I lost my soul as well as my head,
only--there's something that hurts as if I still had one."

Again the girl wept wildly. But now Miss Pritchard's arm was enfolding
her.

"No, precious child, you haven't lost it. And if you were sorry--but
we won't talk more about it now. I'll hold that in my heart as comfort
until to-morrow and then we'll see what we can do to straighten it all
out. At this moment we must consider that there's the evening
performance to go through, and being the last, it will be very taxing.
Somehow, we'll make things right, among us all. You go to your room
now and lie down. If you think of this, only say to yourself that it's
over, and be thankful for that. And we two women who love you so that
we're all but jealous of one another already will plan the next--or
rather, the first move. Come, child."

At the door Elsie turned. "Is the other Elsie all right, auntie?" she
asked anxiously.

"Yes, dear," returned Mrs. Moss rather doubtfully. "At least--well, as
a matter of fact the poor child is just--waiting. I made her promise
not to say a word to the Middletons until I came on here and returned.
I am afraid--dear me, I am sure I don't know _what_ I said to the girl.
I am afraid I must have been rather hard on her."

"Oh, auntie! And it wasn't her fault in the least! I just dragged her
into it. It was all for me. And she's the sweetest, gentlest thing!
And not the least little bit her fault! Oh, dear! Oh, dear!"

The girl wrung her hands in genuine distress. Mrs. Moss shook her head
mournfully.

"I might have known," she acknowledged regretfully. "But, oh, Miss
Pritchard, I was nearly distracted. It all came upon me so
suddenly--not a whisper of warning."

Miss Pritchard could understand what that meant. She led Elsie into
her room and established her upon the bed. Elsie talked incoherently
and at random, until Miss