Mary arrived at this juncture, and taking all in, was inspired to address the woman with these words, spoken in a confident tone.
"It's all right, ma'am, I've seen the policeman. He's coming on now; he's just round the corner."
The rough on hearing this stared at the girl, and thinking that she was someone belonging to the house who had slipped out for the police unobserved by him, considered it prudent, after an oath and a growl or two, to shuffle off slouchingly but not slowly. The cabman too drove off with alacrity, not being anxious to enter into explanations with his natural enemy, the man in the blue coat.
"Why, child!" exclaimed Catherine King in amazement, for she was the tall pale woman, and had just returned from her expedition to the North in search of a pupil. "Why, child!"
"Well, ma'am, I saw what was up and I knew that tale would move the fellows."
"A sharp girl!" scrutinising her closely, "a clever girl! and you can lie very fairly."
Sister Catherine said this in an appreciative way, as if allotting discriminate praise for some creditable accomplishment.
"It is a good thing to know how to lie now and then," remarked Mary with a hard laugh.
"It is," replied the other woman thoughtfully. It did not take long for an idea to possess Catherine King. Now, this young girl's face had impressed her. "What, have I undertaken this long journey for nothing?" she thought. "Have I travelled about in a vain search for a pupil of the aim, only on my return to find the very prize I am seeking, on my own door-step? It may be so by some wonderful chance. I have a sort of inspiration that it is so." And this impulsive half-mad woman was just thinking how best to open the question to Mary, when the latter cleared the way by saying:
"Can you direct me, please ma'am, to this address?" and she handed to Mrs. King the paper that had been given her at the servant's registry office.