Half laughing, half scared, the girls gropingly made their way into the carriage.
"You know where to go, James," said Fay to the coachman.
"Yes, miss," replied the man, touching his hat. Then the door slammed and they were driven away to the unknown.
After what seemed rather a long drive, the carriage stopped, and the door of it was opened by the footman, who said, "I will help you out, ladies."
He carefully guided first Janet then Edna up a long flight of steps, rang the bell and stood waiting for it to be answered.
"It's all right," they heard him say as some one opened to them. Then they were conducted across a tiled floor to a soft carpet and were made conscious of the odor of roses and the hush of a warm curtained room.
It was all very mysterious, but they imagined they must be in some private house. They heard the carriage roll away, and each clutched the other who sat beside her on a sofa. It was some comfort to feel the presence of a companion in misery.
Presently they heard the murmur of voices in what seemed a room beyond, then some one came forward.
"Well, young ladies," a voice addressed them, "was it Mrs. or Miss Austin you wished to see?"
"I—we—don't know," replied Janet helplessly.