"Then, for the present, it's good-bye."
She opened the door. He checked her.
"I shall see you to-night when I come in."
"You shall; if--if nothing's been told."
She went from the room to her own on the landing below, put on her hat, her coat, and her gloves, and went quickly down the stairs. Seldom was a pretty girl ready more quickly for the street. She already had the front door open when her mother called to her.
"Mabel, what to goodness is the matter with you? Where are you going?"
The girl seemed for a moment to be in doubt whether or not to let her mother's question go unheeded; then decided to vouchsafe her at least some scraps of information.
"Mother, I believe Mr. Elmore's gone."
"Gone? Mr. Elmore? What's the girl talking about?"
"His bedroom's empty, and there's ten pounds on the dressing-table, and I'm going straight off to the City to see."