Kitty found herself at Constantino Road between seven and eight o'clock. The blinds of Carrie's bedroom window were still down, for the Lewises were not early risers. Maggie however, was up, and when Kitty rang the bell she opened the door for her.
"I want to see Miss Carrie at once," cried Kitty. "Is she up, Maggie?"
"Not she, miss. She's sound asleep and in bed. But I'll run up and tell her that you are here. Please come into the dining-room, Miss Malone."
Maggie threw open the door of this by-no-means luxurious apartment, and then ran upstairs to inform Carrie of Kitty's unexpected arrival.
"Now, what can be up?" thought Carrie. "Surely she is satisfied. I did very well for her."
She dressed herself hastily, and in five minutes was standing by Kitty's side.
"What is it?" she asked. "Are you not pleased? Elma took you the money, did she not? She must have stayed with one of the Middleton School girls for the night, for she never returned home; but she took you the money. I thought I did very well by you. Were you not satisfied?"
"She took me the money?" cried Kitty, turning pale. "No; that she did not. I never had any money. What do you mean, Carrie?"
"What I say," answered Carrie. "Oh, do sit down, Kitty; you look quite ghastly. I gave Elma ten pounds seven shillings and twopence to give you I got eleven guineas for your things, including the watch and chain. After I deducted my ten per cent., the balance for you was ten pounds seven and twopence. I thought you would be delighted. Did she not take you the money early yesterday evening?"
"But she left here quite early on purpose. She said she was going straight to your house. I sent you plenty of money, did I not?"
"How much did you say?" asked Kitty, putting her hand up to her forehead in a distracted way.
"Ten pounds seven and twopence. You only really wanted eight pounds, did you not?"
"I had a little money of my own, and eight pounds would have done," said Kitty in a low voice; "but----"
Here she sprang forward and gripped Carrie by the arm. "What does it mean, Carrie--what does it mean? Elma never came near me; I never, never saw her last night."
"You never saw her? Elma never went to you?"
"No, never. Do you think I would tell an untruth? I never saw her, not since early school yesterday. Oh, Carrie, tell me what it means?"