"Why—— Have you seen your sister to-day?"
"No."
"No, she hasn't been here. Why do you ask?"
"Because I haven't seen her to-day, either. This morning, I called on her; I was told that she had a headache and was asleep. But this evening I called again, and she had gone out."
"Well, she has probably gone to see some of her friends. She has retained some acquaintances from the time when her husband was living, and she goes to see them sometimes. I can see nothing disturbing in that."
"But, after a whole day without seeing each other, to go out in the evening without saying where she's going—without leaving a word for me!"
"Fanny is so thoughtless; she probably forgot."
"Dear Adolphine! you try to excuse your sister, but I am sure that you blame her, at the bottom of your heart. Don't you remember how unkind she was to me last night?"
"Why, I didn't notice——"