"Oh, then the cards stood for people, didn't they! And the card you dropped in the yard was your card, of course."
"Of course."
"And did Fran—have a card to represent herself, perhaps?"
"I have told you the story," said Abbott, rising.
"That means she did. Then she wanted to know if you and she would… Mrs. Gregory, I have always felt that Fran has deceived us about her age! She is older than she pretends to be!"
"I believe this concludes our bargain," said Abbott, rising.
Mrs. Gregory was calm. "Miss Grace, Fran told me long ago that she is eighteen years old; she came as a little girl, because she thought we would take her in the more readily, if we believed her a mere child."
"Does Mr. Gregory know that?"
"I haven't told him; I don't know whether Fran has or not."
"You haven't told him!" Grace was speechless. "You knew it, and haven't told him? What ought I to do?"