“Miss Walton said you wished to see me, sir,” she said, simply.
“Yes, Miss Douglas, as we sail on Monday, I thought best to close your account with the firm to-night.”
“You have heard from Mr. Conrad, then, I suppose,” she said, taking it for granted, while her face became radiant with hope.
“No, Miss Douglas; I have not. I wrote immediately, but, receiving no reply, after waiting three days, I telegraphed, and his clerk returned word to-day that he had left town for a week.”
Brownie’s countenance fell, and she grew very pale.
All her bright hopes crumbled to dust, and nothing remained for her but to plod wearily along day by day.
“I am very sorry,” she said, regretfully. “Of course, it is settled that I am not to go with you.”
“Why not?” he asked, quickly adding: “You jump at conclusions, do you not? I told you, I believe, that, as we sailed on Monday, I wished to close your account to-night. That does not look much like not going, does it?”
She had forgotten his words, and her face lighted a trifle at this; but she asked:
“But would you be justified, sir, in taking me without a recommendation?”