“I expect that is why we have seen nothing of Mr. Ray this week,” said Dollie. “The poor old father, he must have been over-sensitive, for if his daughter was innocent he should not have grieved so. As for that fellow who professed to be a lover, why, he must have been a good-for-nothing to do a thing like that. She’s lucky to be rid of him!” she added, with unusual spirit. But Marion was walking the floor in a perfect frenzy of indignation. She clenched her hands together as she thought over what she had just read. “Mr. Ray, our dear, good friend. Oh, I am so sorry for him!” she cried. “He is going to take his two sisters abroad immediately. He has to, I can see that. It would be dreadful for them to stay here.” “And we won’t see him again,” said Dollie, almost ready to cry. Marion bit her lips and her gray eyes grew almost hard with agony. “I’m afraid not,” she said, shortly: “the paper says he is to sail to-morrow.” There was a sharp rap on the door, and Marion composed herself quickly and opened it. The stout, coarse figure of the landlady completely blocked the doorway. “Good-evening, Mrs. Garvin,” said the young girl, politely, then as she observed the woman’s expression she stood still and stared at her. “You are a nice pair, I must say!” began the boarding-house keeper angrily. “To think of the likes of you comin’ into my house! You’ve got nerve and to spare, Miss Marion Marlowe!” She glanced at the sisters as she spoke, but as neither of them answered she went on with her vituperations. “Did you think because you gave your names as Miller that the truth wouldn’t leak out? Well, that shows how much you know, you little ninnies! Why, I’d have caught on myself if I ever read the papers! The description of you would have given me the tip at once if I’d happened to see it!” “If you had read the papers you would have seen that we were not to blame for our misfortunes,” said Marion, coldly; “but you cannot blame us for not wishing to be known. We are only simple country girls, we do not wish to be stared at as curiosities.” “Oh, I guess you ain’t so simple as you look,” sneered the woman. “Girls that run away from home with city chaps ain’t so very simple, or innocent either.” “Hush!” cried Marion, sternly, “not another word, madam! You are talking about something which you do not understand! This is my room, and I insist upon being treated with courtesy.” Marion’s cheeks glowed like fire as she glared back at the woman. For Dollie’s sake she would as readily have confronted the very demon of evil himself. “And this is my house, and I want you to leave it!” was the woman’s prompt answer. “I’ll not harbor such creatures another night, if I know it!” Marion took a step forward, her face becoming covered with a death-like pallor. “Another word if you dare!” she said in a vibrating whisper.