Her observation was illustrated the moment after they had left her in the rear; for a gentleman suddenly sprang across the pavement, jumped into a cab, and was whirled away, with as much apparent magic to provincial eyes, as if a pantomimic trick had been performed.

Rhoda pressed forward a step in advance of her father.
"It may have been her husband," she thought, and trembled.

The curtains up in the drawing-room were moved as by a hand; but where was Dahlia's face?
Dahlia knew that they were coming, and she was not on the look-out for them!--a strange conflict of facts, over which Rhoda knitted her black brows, so that she looked menacing to the maid opening the door, whose "Oh, if you please, Miss," came in contact with "My sister--Mrs.--, she expects me.

I mean, Mrs.--" but no other name than "Dahlia" would fit itself to Rhoda's mouth.
"Ayrton," said the maid, and recommenced, "Oh, if you please, Miss, and you are the young lady, Mrs.Ayrton is very sorry, and have left word, would you call again to-morrow, as she have made a pressing appointment, and was sure you would excuse her, but her husband was very anxious for her to go, and could not put it off, and was very sorry, but would you call again to-morrow at twelve o'clock?
and punctually she would be here." The maid smiled as one who had fairly accomplished the recital of her lesson.

Rhoda was stunned.
"Is Mrs.Ayrton at home ?--Not at home ?" she said.
"No: don't ye hear ?" quoth the farmer, sternly.
"She had my letter--do you know ?" Rhoda appealed to the maid.
"Oh, yes, Miss.