“What’s the news at home?” she asked. “How’s Grandma? And Mr. Blair?”
“Mr. Blair’s gone,” said Minnie, curtly.
“Gone! Not really!”
She was shocked to see tears in Minnie’s eyes.
“But, my dear, what happened?”
Minnie turned away her head.
“A letter from his wife....”
“So he was married!...”
“Yes.... He never mentioned it.... She wrote that he’d written her again for his board money. She’d already given it to him twice, and couldn’t afford to give it again. She said she hoped he’d pay me, but that she couldn’t be responsible for his debts. That she was a business woman and found it hard enough to get along anyway. And advised me not to ‘place too much confidence in his statements.’ She said she was sure that by this time his health was much improved——”
“Was he ill, then?”