Now, this assurance came too quick on the heels of a natural question. It had not been asked for as yet. Violet was ready to bare her heart to this common-looking girl for sake of the knowledge that she was Gwendoline's only confidante. But the exceeding promptitude of Jenny's testimony forced back the rush of sentiment. Violet even recoiled a little. Could it be possible that her sweet and gracious sister, the laughing sprite of bygone days, had been driven to make something of a friend of this coarse, small-faced, mean-eyed wench? How pitiful, how sordid, was each fresh chapter of Gwen's hidden life! Van Hupfeldt saw that a check had occurred, though his seething brain, intent only on securing an unalterable verdict, was unable to appreciate the delicate poise of Violet's emotions. "Question her," he said gently. "She will tell you all about her mistress, to whom she was very greatly attached. Were you not, Sarah?" "Oh, yes, sir. She were such a lovely lady, and so nice an' kind in her ways, that nobody could help lovin' her." That was better. Violet thawed again. "I hardly know what to ask you," she said wistfully. "Did she ever speak of us, of my mother and me?" "She would talk about you for hours, miss. Many a time I could hardly get on with my work, she was so anxious to have some one to gossip with. Bless your 'eart, miss, I know your name as well as my own." Strange, most unutterably strange, thought Violet; but she said, with a sad smile: "You were much favored, Sarah. I would have given all I have in the world to have changed places with you. Tell me, was this man--this Mr. Strauss--kind to her?" "He must have been, miss. He--" "Must have been? But you saw and heard!" Jenny kept her head, though she flushed a little. "People often do put on a different way before servants, miss, to what they have in private. Not that I have reason to think anyways bad of Mr. Strauss. He was a very generous sort of gentleman, always free with his money. What I meant was that Miss--er--Miss Gwendoline used to speak of him as a lovin' husband." Jenny caught her breath a trifle. She did not dare to look at Van Hupfeldt, as he had specially warned her against doing so. Like most of her class, she was prepared now to cover any mistake by excessive volubility. "Did you address her as 'Miss Gwendoline,' then?" "Yes, miss. That is the way on the stage, you know." "But this was not on the stage." "Quite right, miss, only ladies in the profession mostly uses their stage names in private." "My sister never appeared on any stage, to my knowledge." Jenny became a little defiant. "Of course, miss," she answered tartly, "I didn't know much about my missus's comin's and goin's, but she used to go regular to rehearsal. The call was for eleven and two most days."