"She tell you?" asked Mrs. Haviland, interested.
"He did," the other said briefly.
"I didn't know she had any friends," was Florence's next comment. "I don't see her visiting, somehow!"
"Oh, my dear. Old Catholic families with chapels in their houses, and nuns, and Mother Superiors!" Rachael's tone was light, but as she spoke a cold premonition seized her heart. She fell silent.
A moment later Charlotte, who had been hovering uncertainly in the doorway of the room, came out to join her mother with a brightly spontaneous air.
"Oh, here you are, M'ma!" said Charlotte. "Are you ready to go?"
"Been having a nice time, dear?" her mother asked fondly.
"Very," Charlotte said. "I've been looking over old magazines in the library--SO interesting!"
This literary enthusiasm struck no answering spark from the matron.
"In the library!" said Florence quickly. "Why, I thought you were with Charley!"