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Mencke said " began the nurse, objectingly, for Violet's sister had given very strict orders upon this very point. "I don't care what Belle said Belle is too fresh sometimes!" Violet cried, spiritedly, and relapsing a trifle into slang, in her irritation over her sister's interference. The nurse changed the subject, and nothing more was said about the matter.
The paper was two days old. Glancing at the clock she saw that it was half-past twelve; but she might be in time for the last sad services for the dead if she should hasten. Mrs. Mencke was out, as usual, and Violet was glad of it, for she knew that she would oppose and might even flatly forbid her going.
Again she was doomed to hear the simple, respectful, "No, madame." More and more perplexed, and not a little alarmed, Mrs. Mencke hastened out into the hall, and was proceeding down stairs to seek Lord Cameron, when she met him just coming up to inquire for his betrothed. He greeted her with his usual courteous manner; then, observing her troubled look, became suddenly grave.
Violet asked, anxious to change the subject, and glancing over her sister's richly clad figure. "Oh, to a grand luncheon given by the Lincoln Club," Mrs. Mencke replied, all animation; "and if you had only been well I certainly should have taken you; I don't know when I have attended so brilliant an affair. But, never mind, you will come out next season, and then we will have plenty of amusement."
Many believed that the young girl had gone out for a walk in the early morning and had, perhaps, fallen into some ravine among the mountains, or into the sea and been drowned. There were only a few who thought otherwise, and these were Mr. and Mrs. Mencke, Lord Cameron, and his mother. Mr. and Mrs.
Mencke brought her some quieting drops, which she obediently swallowed, and after a few moments began to grow more composed.
Mencke had been furious, upon her return home to find how she and Sarah had both been outwitted, and she had come to Mrs. Bailey's prepared, not to apologize, but to be very severe upon the offender for her defiance of all authority. But the sight of her happy face and sparkling eyes disarmed her, and she passed over the affair much more lightly than Violet had dared to hope she would.
Mencke sought Violet and renewed the subject of Vane Cameron's proposal. "I wish you would let me alone about that, Belle," the young girl responded, wearily. "It is useless for you to try to change my decision my word is pledged to Wallace, and only death will ever release me from it, for if I live to go home I shall redeem it."
Mencke looked thoughtful, and not especially pleased by the proposition. "You are very kind, Althea, to propose it, but Mr. Mencke and I had planned a trip to Canada for this month and next, and we intended to take Violet with us." Violet turned a cold, steadfast look upon her sister. "I told you that I should not go to Canada, Belle," she said, quietly, but decidedly.
Mencke made the most of it; and, feeling perfectly jubilant over this happy termination to all her ambitious plotting and scheming, she stole away to impart the gratifying information to her husband, who, of late, had seemed to be very impatient of the delay to bring matters to a crisis. They did not trouble the young girl much after that.
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