At last her turn also came, and she was ushered into the audience chamber of the “high official.”
And with grim satisfaction Elfie noticed how his countenance changed as he read her letter.
Presently, with his eyes still following the lines, he put out his hand, and rang the bell that stood upon his table.
A messenger answered it.
Then he—the “high”—wrote a few lines at the end of that paper, placed it in another envelope, directed it, and put it in the hands of the messenger, saying:
“Take this to its address.”
When the messenger had bowed low and left the room, the great man turned to Elfie.
“You have rendered good service, and I thank you for your zeal. You can withdraw.”
CHAPTER XXIII.
ERMINIE’S GREAT SORROW.
When Albert Goldsborough was turned out of the library by his indignant little ladylove, he did not go out of the house as she had commanded him to do. He passed cavalierly by the staring and stupefied servant who had been ordered to attend him, and saying that he should go to Colonel Eastworth’s rooms and wait for his return, ascended the stairs.