"You'll wait many a month then," was the grim reply of the offended woman.
"I do not understand you," Queenie answered, passing her small hand across her brow with a dim presentiment of coming evil. "Will you please tell me where I can find Captain Ernscliffe?"
"You'll find him across the Atlantic Ocean, somewhere in Europe, ma'am!"
She fired the words off like a final shot and looked at Queenie, prepared to enjoy her chagrin and amazement, but she was almost frightened by the expression of terrible despair that came over the beautiful, young face.
"In Europe," she said in a voice so low and heart-broken the woman could scarcely hear it. "Are you quite sure?"
"Quite sure, ma'am. He went away to travel a week after his wife's death, and may not return for years."
She made a motion to shut the door, intimating that the conference was ended, but Queenie leaned up against it so that she was compelled to desist.
"Can you give me his address that I may write to him?" she said.
"Well, I never!" ejaculated the housekeeper, staring at her in amazement.
Queenie only repeated her words more plainly.