"Somehow I think it would have been more to our interest if we had taken her part and hidden our hatred in our own hearts," said Mrs. Courtney. "Soon we shall be turned out of doors penniless, with no claim on her pity or protection."
"But, mama, you will get the ransom for that--thing," returned Azalea, growing pale at the memory of her fright.
"I am not so sure of that. There are no answers to my letters."
"Then, mama, it may not be as important as we thought. We had better destroy it before we are suspected," cried Azalea, unconscious that a woman listening at the keyhole gave a start of dismay.
"Yes, I will burn it, and keep the white silk for your wedding-gown," said Mrs. Courtney thriftily, unheeding her daughter's shudder.
"Perhaps I'll never need a wedding-gown, mama. I have not had a letter from the baronet for two weeks. He only proposed to me to pique Nita, you know, and he may intend to back out of the engagement now."
"If he does he will have a suit for breach of promise on his hands," exclaimed Mrs. Courtney viciously, and the woman listening outside the door sneered as she grasped closer in her hands a thin, foreign-looking letter, bordered and sealed with black.
Then she retreated a few paces, gave a loud cough, and, again advancing, rapped on the door and delivered her letter.
"Good Heavens, mama! a London letter in mourning. And, see, it is in a strange hand--a woman's! What can it mean?"
Her daughter obeyed, exclaiming in another moment:
"Sir George's sister, mama--Lady Landon--oh, mama, this is terrible. Sir George was thrown from his horse two weeks ago, down at his country place, and fatally injured, dying in a few hours. He never spoke, never was conscious again--so farewell to all my ambitious dreams! Fate has baffled me again."
Mrs. Hill, who had taken the liberty of lingering, now had to help bring Azalea out of a fit of hysteria induced by the failure of her brilliant prospects. Mrs. Courtney dismissed the housekeeper, and began to comfort her daughter.
"Don't grieve any more over it, my dear. Fortunately your affections are not hurt in the least."
"No--but it's the money and the position I've lost--that's what I'm thinking of, mama."
"It can't be helped now, and I have another plan--if all goes well."