Hobbs remembered Dr. Templeton's injunctions never to cross her whims, and so did not persist further.
Dora rang the bell. A woman, evidently a caretaker, opened the door.
"Do you wish to see the house, ma'am?"
"Yes, if you please," replied Dora.
She was invited to "step in," and the woman prepared to show her over the premises.
"The studio is a very fine one, and communicates with the garden. Your husband is an artist, I suppose, ma'am?"
"Yes," said Dora.
"Then you would like to see the studio first, perhaps?"
As soon as they reached it, Dora asked the woman to leave her there alone a little while, under pretence that she had measurements to take and many details to think out.
For the first time since the sudden change had come over her, which had so astonished her sister, Dora was seized with a fit of sadness. Her lips trembled, her teeth chattered. Hobbs did not take her eyes off her mistress, but she did not venture to speak. Dora opened the door that led to the garden, and a sharp cry escaped her. A little girl of Eva's age was romping about on the lawn. She stood rooted to the ground, and a flood of tears gushed from her eyes.