“Poor child! No wonder! I hated to bother you with this, but dear me--I seem to be following the lead of others and bringing my burdens to lay upon your youthful shoulders. However--we cannot let this go on. I am convinced that there is a mistake and that Miss Lorraine can explain. Shall I speak to her or would you rather, Anna?” Anna considered. “Perhaps I’d better,” she said. “But--I guess I won’t do anything until after to-morrow. I’d better think it over first.” Mr. Langley begged to drive her home, but recollecting her promise to Alice she made an excuse. And there was Alice waiting for her at the lane. To-night Alice was in high spirits. First she asked about the baby in a pathetically perfunctory way, then she put a careless query in regard to Reuben. Anna’s heart grew cold. What did it mean? Why was she asking so many questions of late, particularly about Reuben? Reaching Miss Penny’s she went in with Alice, understanding clearly now that Alice wished her mother to think they had been together all afternoon. Mrs. Lorraine looked up with troubled face. “O Alice, I didn’t know you were going out this afternoon,” she said. “We looked everywhere for you. I wanted you to go over to Wenham to the bank to see Mr. Clarke. If we are to stay here until after Christmas, I feel as if we ought to give up the cottage.” Alice became very white. “We can’t give it up so suddenly,” she said with a curious gasp. “You have to--give notice.” “It’s different in our case,” said Mrs. Lorraine, paling herself. “But never mind now. I will write a note and send it to-night. Miss Penny says Mr. Phelps will take it.” “Not to-night, mother,” the girl said quickly and with a certain fierceness of determination. “Wait till--next Saturday perhaps. I have--lost the key. I’ll go over to-morrow and see if I can find it.” CHAPTER XII When Anna Miller had a concrete problem to solve, it was her habit--rather more unconscious, however, than deliberate--to put herself in touch with the situation or the matter itself and trust to her mother-wit for suggestions as to procedure. Wherefore, as soon as Joe, Junior, fell asleep the following afternoon, she betook herself over to Miss Penny’s to see Alice. She had no plan. She only wished to spend an hour in Alice’s company, after which she might have something to meditate upon. She found Mrs. Lorraine just finishing the washing-up and was surprised that Alice would have left it to her. Then she recollected the hour and wondered why the work should have been delayed. As she enquired for Alice with apparent unconcern, she saw that Mrs. Lorraine’s face was flushed and that Miss Penny showed traces of excitement, and guessed that something had happened directly after dinner. It wasn’t unlikely that there had been a discussion between Alice and her mother and that Alice had flown.