"Do you know that your voice reminds me of the voice of a young girl whom I once knew and loved dearly?" she said, huskily.
Oh, how those words thrilled every fiber of Dorothy's being!
"She was a very fair young girl," continued Jessie, thoughtfully, "but she went astray."
The bracelet that Dorothy was holding fell to the floor with a crash.
"Oh, I—I must have broken it!" she sobbed.
"Never mind," said Miss Staples; "you could not help it. Accidents are liable to happen at any time. It is not past mending, I am sure. Do not allow it to trouble you."
She quite believed that Mrs. Brown was a trifle awkward—probably a little nervous, and she did her best to reassure her.
"You must not feel badly about it," she repeated kindly. "I, too, am nervous sometimes. Why, only to-night I dropped my cup of chocolate, breaking the cup into bits, my hands were so nervous. I had such a headache all day, that I did not feel able to go down to the table. Even now I am by no means free from the terrible pain in my head. We shall leave the opera early," she went on, adding: "No doubt you are pleased to hear that."
"It does not matter much to me, madame," came the faint reply.
"The carriage will be here in half an hour. I trust you will be ready, Mrs. Brown. Please have my wraps in readiness then. One of the maids will tell you where to find them. You will not have much time to get your own wraps."