Kathleen released herself from Alpine, answering, bitterly:
"I came, but your mother denied me, and put me out into the street, unconscious, to perish in the snow."
"Impossible!" cried Alpine. But there came to her all in a rush the memory of that night when her mother had told her that a woman had come to see Ivan, and she had driven her away.
"She deceived me; it was Kathleen," she thought, and exclaimed, eagerly:
"My dearest girl, she did not tell me anything about it, but of course she believed you were an impostor. You believe me? you will let me be your friend, Kathleen?" anxiously.
"Come and see me at Mrs. Stone's to-morrow, Alpine," her step-sister answered; and then turned to the gentleman.
"How do you do, Mr. Layne? Will you, too, take me for an impostor?" she inquired, holding out her little hand to him.
"No, indeed, Miss Carew, for I am sure there can not be a copy of your beautiful face in all the world," he replied, gallantly. Being an elderly widower, he felt privileged to pay broad compliments.
Kathleen blushed and smiled, and the curtain rising at that moment showed Ralph Chainey that Alpine had seized the first opportunity to go and see Kathleen.
He was intensely pleased with Alpine's loyalty.