“Is he gone, Livy?” said Cary, as, entering noiselessly, she stole behind her sister's chair.
“Yes, dear, he is gone!” said she, sighing slightly.
“My poor forlorn damsel, don't take his absence so much to heart! You 're certain to see him at dinner!”
“He said he'd leave this afternoon,” said she, gravely; “that he could n't bear to meet me after what had passed.”
“And what has passed, child?”
“You know, of course, Cary; I refused him!”
“Refused him!—refused him!—what possessed you to do so?”
“This!” said Olivia, gasping with terror at the unknown danger; and she caught hold of the fringe of her sister's scarf. Miss Kennyfeck started, and put her hand to her neck, and, suddenly letting it fall again, she leaned against the wall for support.
“This was a mistake, Livy,” said she, in a voice barely above a whisper; “I was trying on some costumes below stairs, and they tied this round my neck, where I utterly forgot it.”
“And there is nothing—” She could not go on, but, hanging her head, burst into tears.