“Robert, I wish to speak with you.” It was the voice of his mother calling softly from an open door near. The lad although deploring the interruption, was too courteous to not heed his mother’s request. Hurriedly he said: “I will be back directly. I have so much to tell you and so very, very much that I want to learn about you.” He was leading the gypsy girl back to her seat beneath the palm.
When he was gone Nan suddenly remembered that in her surprise and joy at finding her old-time comrade she had completely forgotten the promise that she had made his mother three years before on Thanksgiving day.
Mrs. Widdemere had then forbidden Robert to ever again speak to the gypsy girl, but before the indignant lad had time to reply, it was Nan who had said: “You need not be troubled, Mrs. Widdemere, for I shall never again speak to one of your kind.”
Unconsciously she had broken that promise many times, for was not her dearly loved room-mate this woman’s niece? Too, even now she had been speaking to her son. Rising, she decided that she must go away somewhere and think what would be the honorable thing for her to do, Just then she saw Phyllis approaching with her partner and, hurrying toward them, she said, “Phyllis, may I speak with you alone for a moment?”
Her friend, excusing herself, led the way into a small reception room and closed the door. “What is it, Nan? You look as though something very unusual had happened.”
The gypsy girl’s cheeks were burning and it was plainly evident that she was much excited. “Phyllis,” she said hurriedly, “don’t ask me to explain now. Please help me to get away at once. Can’t I call a taxi and go to Aunt Dahlia? Something has happened and I will tell you all about it to-morrow. Don’t worry dear, but I must go.”
Phyllis believing that her dearest friend was about to be seriously ill, hastened to comply with her wishes. First she explained this fear to Peggy’s mother, who at once called their chauffeur and directed him to take Nan to the Barrington residence.
It was not late and Miss Barrington and her younger sister. Miss Dahlia, were seated in the library reading when the girl entered. They were indeed surprised, for Nan had called on them not two hours before when she had first arrived in town.
“Dearie,” Miss Dahlia exclaimed, rising and going toward the girl with outstretched hands “what is it? Are you ill?”
“No, not ill, but troubled in spirit,” Nan said with a forlorn little laugh. Then she sat on a stool near the two old ladies and told all that had happened.