“Good-by,” she said, rising quickly, “I must go.”
“Oh, no,—don’t go,” cried Pinky, overhearing. “Why, you’ve only just come.”
“Yes, I must go,” said Miss Mystery, decidedly. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Bates, and thank you for bringing me. Good afternoon, Mrs. Peyton.”
Including all the others in a general bow of farewell, the strange girl went to the front door, and paused for the attendant Nogi to open it.
Door-tending the assistant butler understood, and he punctiliously waited until Miss Austin had buttoned her gloves and had given an adjusting pat to her veil, after a fleeting glance in the hall mirror.
Then he opened the door with an obsequious air, and closed it behind her departing figure.
But it was immediately flung open again by Pinky Payne, who ran through it and after the girl.
“Wait a minute, Miss Austin. How fast you walk! I’m going home with you.”
“Please not,” she said, indifferently, scarcely glancing at him.
“Yep. Gotto. Getting near dusk, and you might be kidnapped. Needn’t talk if you don’t want to.”