"Ah, yes, Mees Kimball," she began. "I am all in readiness
--but--pardon--zat Marie--she haf left me--in such hastiness--I am
all at what you call ze ocean--how you express it?"

With a pretty little motion of her hands she looked appealingly at
Cora.

"You mean all at sea, madam."

"Ah, yes! At sea! How comprehensive! Ze sea is always troubled,
and so am I. Zat Marie she left me so suddenness--I know not where
are all my things--I depend so much on her--"

"Has Miss Downs left?" Cora could not refrain from asking.

"Ha! Yes! Zat is eet. Precisely. So quickly she go away an' leaf
me. She does not think much about it, perhaps, but I am too busy to
be so annoyed. Just some relation not well--indisposition,
maybe--well--voila! she is gone--it was not so in my time that a
girl must leaf her trade and depart with such quickness--run away.
Louise! Louse! Come instantly and for me find zat motor chapeau for
Mademoiselle Kimball."

Her voice rose to a shrill call.

"Quick!" she called, and then came a string of French. "I must not
be kept waiting--eet was already packed--"

Louise, who had replaced Mary Downs, found the bonnet Cora had
ordered, and handed it to her mistress. Cora took her place before a