When he reached his sister’s house, and had kissed her and his nieces, he inquired eagerly:—
“Then you haven’t heard, Albert,” said his sister, not without embarrassment, for she was about to deceive him.
“Heard! What is there to hear?” he said impatiently.
“Indeed I don’t know. She remained with me three months after you left, and then suddenly disappeared. She must have got tired of a life so different from that she had been accustomed to lead, and determined to go back to her street life.”
“I am deeply grieved to hear it,” said Captain Barnes. “I have anticipated meeting her with so much pleasure. And have you never seen her since?”
“I thought you might accidentally have met her in the street.”
“Yes,” said Mrs. Merton, with hesitation, “that is, a little. She was not quite so wild and rude as at first; but I don’t think she would ever have made up the deficiencies of her early training.”
Captain Barnes paced the floor, deeply disturbed. His disappointment was a great one.
“I shall try to trace her,” he said at length. “I will apply to the police for help.”
“That’s the best thing to do, uncle,” said Mary, with a sneer. “Very likely you’ll find her at Blackwell’s Island.”
“For shame, niece,” said her uncle, sternly. “You might have a little more charity for a poor girl who has not had your advantages.”
Mary was abashed, and regretted that she had spoken so unguardedly, for she hoped to produce a favorable impression upon her uncle, in the hope of becoming his heiress.
The silence was broken by the stopping of a carriage before the door. Mary flew to the window.
“O mother,” she said, “there’s a beautiful carriage at the door, with a coachman in livery, and there’s a lady and a young girl, elegantly dressed, getting out.”
Quite a sensation was produced by the intelligence.
A moment later, and the servant brought in the cards of Mrs. Lindsay and Miss Lindsay.
“I don’t remember the name,” said Mrs. Merton, “but you may show the ladies in, Hannah.”
Directly afterwards Mrs. Lindsay and our heroine entered the room. They were visiting friends in New York, and Jane had induced her mother to call at the house where she had learned her first lessons in civilization. She was very different now from the young Arab of fifteen months since. She was now a young lady in manners, and her handsome dress set off a face which had always been attractive. Neither Mrs. Merton nor Mary dreamed of associating this brilliant young lady with the girl whom they had driven from the house by a false charge.