"What is this great secret?" asked Eugénie, bending down with a laugh.
Meg put her mouth to Eugénie's ear, and whispered,--
"When I grow up I'm going to marry Keith."
"You see," said Kitty, overhearing the whisper, "my daughter is your rival."
"And a very dangerous one," replied Eugénie with a sigh, touching the auburn hair.
Meg was sent off after this, and then Kitty arranged all about the salary with Eugénie, after which she accompanied her to the door to say good-bye.
"I'm sorry I put any distrust into your heart about Mr. Stewart," she said; "but don't trouble, my dear, get him to give up his dissipated habits, and you'll no doubt find he'll make an excellent husband."
"Ah!" said Eugénie to herself as she walked to the station, "it was only dissipation she meant--as if anything like that could hurt Keith in my eyes."
Then she began to think of the strange woman she had left--with her sudden changes of temperament from laughter to tears--with her extraordinary nature, half-vice half-virtue, of the love she bore for her child, and the strong will that could send that child away for ever from her lonely life.