Sit quiet, and let me think."
For the next ten minutes there was silence in the room. At the end of
that time Magdalen took out her watch and held it close to the grate.
There was just firelight enough to show her the hour. It was close on
six o'clock.
"Are you composed enough to go downstairs and deliver a message?" she
asked, rising from her chair as she spoke to Louisa again. "It is a very
simple message--it is only to tell the boy that I want a cab as soon as
he can get me one. I must go out immediately. You shall know why later
in the evening. I have much more to say to you; but there is no time
to say it now. When I am gone, bring your work up here, and wait for my
return. I shall be back before bed-time."
Without another word of explanation, she hurriedly lit a candle and
withdrew into the bedroom to put on her bonnet and shawl.
CHAPTER II.
BETWEEN nine and ten o clock the same evening, Louisa, waiting
anxiously, heard the long-expected knock at the house door. She ran
downstairs at once and let her mistress in.
Magdalen's face was flushed. She showed far more agitation on returning
to the house than she had shown on leaving it.
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