What a relief to Susan! Miss Ashton had often inquired about Jerry, and once came into the room to see him, so she answered glibly,—
“Week before last, on Wednesday.”
“He came in the evening, I believe.”
“Yes, ma’am: it was a beautiful moonlight night, and a party of boys that were taking a sleigh-ride brought him over.” 117
“Did he go back with them?”
“I suppose so,” said Susan unhesitatingly. Jerry had not told her of his possible return in the cars.
“Does your brother know many of the young ladies here?”
“He knows his cousins, of course, and Marion Parke, and some of the girls that happened to come into the parlor when he was here, to whom I introduced him.”
“Can you tell me the names of the girls?”
Susan hesitated a moment. What could Miss Ashton want to know for? What could Jerry have done to make her suspect him?