Eva was at the chapel that morning and overheard, of the conversation between Miss Gusher and Miss Vapors, just enough to pique her curiosity and rouse her alarm. Of all things, she dreaded any such report getting into the whirlwind of gossip that always eddies round a church door where there is an interesting, unmarried rector, and she resolved to caution Angie on the very first opportunity; and so, when her share of wreaths and crosses was finished, and the afternoon sun began to come level through the stained windows, she crossed over to Angie's side, to take her home with her to dinner.
"I've something to tell you," she said, "and you must come home and stay with me to-night." And so Angie came.
"Do you know," said Eva, as soon as the sisters found themselves alone in her chamber, where they were laying off their things and preparing for dinner, "do you know that Miss Gusher?"
"I—no, very slightly," said Angie, shaking out her shawl to fold it. "She's a very cultivated woman, I believe."
"Well, I heard her saying some disagreeable things about you and Mr. St. John this morning," said Eva.
The blood flushed in Angie's cheek, and she turned quickly to the glass and began arranging her hair.
"What did she say?" she inquired.
"Something about the Van Arsdel girls always getting up flirtations."
"Nonsense! how hateful! I'm sure it's no fault of mine that Mr. St. John came and spoke to me."