“Frances! Come back and let me explain!”
“I can’t!” said Frances in a low voice. “Please don’t make such a noise!”
“Come back! I can’t let you go like this! I didn’t mean what I said! You know I didn’t!”
Already the doors of two apartments had stealthily opened.
“Oh, please hush!” entreated Frances. “I can’t come back. I’ll write.”
Suddenly Miss Eppendorfer turned to the two men.
“Can’t you beg this hard-hearted girl not to leave me like this, without a chance to explain?” she sobbed, in a torrent of tears. “Can’t you say a word for me? I’m alone in the world. I haven’t——”
“Hush!” commanded Frances. “I’ll come! Please take the trunk in again.”
When the front door was closed Miss Eppendorfer flung her arms about Frances.
“I know you can’t forgive me,” she moaned. “But, oh Frances!... You don’t know what love is! You don’t know how I love that man! I know I’m a fool, but I can’t help it. Oh, Frances, just stand by me till it’s over.”