'How? What do you mean?'
'Your sister has run away with a low, vile swindler. My curse rest on her forever!'
'Oh, not so—say not so!' replied Harriet, imploringly.
'Tell me, my child,' said Hiram, mournfully, while he seated himself by her side and took her hand—'tell your father truly, did you know anything about this?'
'No, papa. I do not even now know what you mean.'
Quite calmly Hiram told his daughter what had occurred. The travelling dress, and Belle's last kiss, flashed on her mind. She repeated the circumstance.
'And you know nothing of this Filippo Barbone?' said Hiram, forcing himself with difficulty to pronounce the name.
'Nothing.'
'And your mother?' continued he, slowly, and in a tone which terrified his child.
'Oh, I am sure she knew nothing about it, perfectly sure. I know she did not wish Belle to go to Mrs. Caruthers's, because she could not go with her; and even after Belle made the arrangement to stay all night, mamma did not seem to be at all satisfied.'