Jerrie was more quiet now, though every effort on his part to learn anything from her concerning the diamonds brought on a fit of raving, when she would insist that the jewels were hers, and must be brought to her at once.
'But you told me they were Mrs.Tracy's,' he said to her once.
With a cunning gleam in her eyes, she replied: 'So they are, or were; but oh, how little you know!' And this was all he could get from her.
He told her he was going away, but that did not seem to affect her, and she only began to talk of Maude, who, she said, must not be harmed.
'Have you seen her?
have you seen her ?' she kept saying.
'Not yet,' he replied, 'but I am going to say good-bye;' and on the day of his departure he went to the Park House and asked if he could see Maude.
'Of course not,' was Mrs.Tracy's prompt reply, when the request was taken to her.

'No one sees her, and I certainly shall not allow him to enter her room.' 'But, Dolly,' Frank began, protestingly, but was cut short by the lady, who said: 'You needn't "Dolly" me, or try to take his part, either.

I have my opinion, and always shall.

He cannot see Maude, and you may tell him so,' turning now to the servant who had brought Harold's message, and who softened it as much as possible.
Harold had half expected a refusal, and was prepared for it.

Taking a card from his pocket, he wrote upon it: 'DEAR MAUDE,--I am going away for a few weeks, and am very sorry that I cannot see you; but your mother knows best, of course, and I must not do anything to make you worse.