She read the palpable disappointment on his face, and added, quickly:
"She had a talent for acting, and has gone upon the stage."
She saw him start as if she had struck him a blow in the face, and he grew lividly pale, as he asked:
"At what theatre?"
"Oh, she has left New York, and gone on the road with a stock company—the one that played 'Hearts and Homes' two weeks here. You may remember Clifford Standish, the leading man. He procured the situation for Geraldine."
Then, as she saw from his face that he was taking it quite hard, she added, with womanly curiosity:
"But how happens it that you are not acquainted with these facts? The papers had some very flattering paragraphs about the beautiful salesgirl who had left a New York store to adopt a stage career."
"I—I—haven't read the papers," he murmured, faintly, like one recovering from a blow.
"Oh, then you must have been away from New York—and poor Geraldine expecting you to call every evening. Why didn't you let her know?"
"I haven't been away from the city, Miss Carroll."