"I see no reason whatever against her hearing. Mabel is fast growing up. You are past fifteen now, are you not, Mabel?"
"Yes, Mrs. Conway."
"Then I think she has a right to hear all about it. She is, after all, the party most interested."
"Thank you, Mrs. Conway," the girl said. "Please let us go out into the garden and sit in the chairs under the shade of that tree. I can see it is going to be a long story, and it will be delightful out there; and then papa can smoke his after-breakfast cigar."
"Very well, Mabel; if your mamma has no objection, I am quite willing."
The chairs were taken out into the shade of the tree and the party sat down, Mabel all excitement, for as yet she knew nothing whatever of what had happened, and was puzzling herself in vain as to how Mrs. Conway could have been working in her interest.
"In the first place, Mabel," Mrs. Conway began, "I suppose you have no idea why you were sent away to Bath?"
Mabel opened her eyes in surprise.
"I thought I went there to get lessons in music and French and dancing."
"Well, you did go for that purpose, but for something else also. You were sent away in order that you might not see me."