"What's up. Has she eloped with Billie Barlow at last?"
Mrs. Howard tried to say it, but became inarticulate with emotion. After five minutes of preamble and exclamation, her daughter was in possession of the fact.
"That explains about her hair," was Elsie's only comment. "I am so relieved to have it settled at last."
"Why didn't she tell me?" wailed Mrs. Howard.
"Oh, people don't always tell those things."
Mrs. Howard was silent.
As they passed the parlor door on their way down to dinner, Mrs. Pendleton's merry laugh rang out and Elsie caught a glimpse of the golden hair under the red lamp and the fugitive glimpse of Mr. Barlow's bald spot.
About two days later, as the girl came in from an afternoon's shopping, and was on her way upstairs, her mother called to her. Something in the sound of it attracted her attention. She hurried down the few steps and into her mother's room. Mrs. Howard was sitting over by the window in the fading light, with a strange look upon her face. An open telegram lay in her lap. Elsie went up to her quickly.
"What is it, mother?"
Mrs. Howard handed her the telegram.