After a long pause, which seemed terribly irksome to Sally, Miss Rogers slowly said:
"I think I may as well break right into the subject that is on my mind, and troubling me greatly, without beating around the bush."
"That will certainly be the best way," murmured Sally.
"Well, then, my dear," said Miss Rogers, with harsh abruptness, "I am afraid I am living in this house under false colors."
Sally's blue eyes opened wide. She did not know what to say.
"The truth is, child, I am not the rich woman people credit me with being. I did not tell you that I had lost my entire fortune, and that I was reduced to penury and want—ay, I would have been reduced to starvation if you had not so kindly taken me in and done for me."
"What! You have lost your great fortune? You are penniless?" fairly shrieked Sally, springing to her feet and looking with amazement into the wrinkled face above her.
Miss Rogers nodded assent, inwardly asking Heaven to pardon her for this, her first deliberate falsehood.
"And you came here to us, got the best room in our house, and all of mamma's best clothes, and you a beggar!"
Miss Rogers fairly trembled under the storm of wrath she had evoked.