Heedless of Golden's large, blue eyes that unclosed and fixed themselves reproachfully upon her, she swept from the room and sought Mr. Leith, to whom she confided the housekeeper's discovery.
The grave-faced lawyer looked shocked and distressed, unaccountably so, the lady thought.
"I can scarcely credit it," he said. "She has such an innocent and child-like face."
"Such faces are sometimes deceiving," remarked the lady. "This instance proves the fact."
"What do you intend to do with the poor child!" Mr. Leith asked, with an unconscious sigh.
"I shall send her away, of course," Mrs. Leith replied, decidedly.
"Oh, cruel, unnatural mother!" said a faint, reproachful voice, behind her.
She turned with a start and saw that Golden had followed her.
The poor child stood trembling in the doorway, her dress in disorder, her beautiful hair broken loose from its fastenings, and streaming over her shoulders, her great, blue eyes blazing like stars in her lovely, pallid face, her sweet lips curled in scorn as she pointed her finger at Mrs. Leith, and exclaimed:
"Oh, cruel, unnatural mother! Is your life so pure that you can afford to sit in judgment on me?"