She had meant to say, "for our mother's sake," but the words stuck in her throat and refused to be uttered.
Miss Chandler laughed again.
"Why did not you finish your sentence?" she asked brutally. "If you will take my advice, my dear Leonie, you will leave here at once. I cannot answer for the result if you remain until to-morrow."
"At least you will say good-bye?"
"With all the pleasure in life!"
Weary, heart-sore, Leonie turned away. There was nothing that she could say—nothing that she could do.
Bowed down, feeling as though a century had been added to her years since the night before, she crept away, and out to where the pale streaks of red in a cool gray sky showed that the morning had broken.
She was without hat or wrap, but did not seem to realize it as she tottered on, apparently oblivious of surroundings, even of suffering!
And so she reached the house that had been her happy home! How changed everything seemed! Slowly, wearily she ascended the stairs and entered the room where she and "dad" had passed so many pleasant hours.
As she opened the door she saw that the room was not empty.