"Near midnight? Why, then, some one must have been awake when I came home, Susette! Why did no one answer the bell?"
"The madame's orders," Susette replied, significantly.
The great dark eyes of Kathleen dilated in wonder.
"But why——" she began, and the maid interrupted:
"Miss Kathleen, I did some eavesdropping on your account last night, and if you'll not think the worse of me for it, I'll tell you Mrs. Carew's plans."
The woman was rather intelligent and quite well educated for one in her position. She had been in Kathleen's service five years, and loved her young mistress dearly. Her devotion to her interests had won her a warm place in Kathleen's heart.
"Go on," she said, and Susette continued:
"When madame went away yesterday it was somewhere into the country where there's a boarding-school, where you are to be sent to-day."
"Susette!"
"It's the gospel truth, miss! They packed your trunk last night, all ready for you to start. That's why they wouldn't let you in. You were not to know anything."