Mrs. Force, meanwhile, at the head of her household, was busy with her packing and other preparations for their removal to Mondreer and their after voyage to Europe.
Every day she sent off boxes by express to Mondreer.
And so the week passed.
Nothing, meantime, had been heard of Col. Anglesea, until Mr. Force put a private detective upon his track, who reported, at the end of the week, that the colonel had left Washington for Quebec.
That was a relief, at least.
It was the tenth of April before the Grandieres finally concluded to return home, and then Mrs. Force, supported by her own girls, begged that they would remain until the whole family were ready to go to Mondreer, that all might travel together; for the lady did not wish that the news of Odalite’s second interrupted wedding should reach the neighborhood and get distorted by gossip before their own return to their country home.
It was, therefore, on a fine day, the twelfth of April, that the large party of family and guests left the city home in the care of the janitor sent by the landlord, and took the train en route for Mondreer.
CHAPTER XXII
FAREWELL VISIT TO MONDREER
It was a long day’s ride, and it was dark when their train ran into the little station where it stopped for half a minute.
The large party got out, and they found a much larger party collected to meet them.