"She's gone to Paris," said the maid, "an' I don't think she's a-coming back."
"Can you give me her address in Paris?"
"She wrote something out for missus, as to where letters was to be sent for her. If you'll step in an' wait a bit, mum, I'll see if I can get it for you. I can't read them furrin names."
Prudence stepped into the stuffy hall and waited.
Presently the maid returned with a half-*sheet of note-paper, on which only the words "Poste Restante, Paris," were written. Bitterly disappointed the younger Miss Semaphore turned away.
"Even if I write to her," she said to herself, "it will mean a couple of days delay at the very least, and great Heaven! what should I do if anyone saw Augusta in the meantime? I must see to some place for her at once, and get her out of that house."
The very weakest women, when forced into a position of danger and responsibility, will act with a certain energy, and will display a resourcefulness that surprises no one more than it surprises themselves. Necessity is a hard taskmaster, who makes people capable of feats hitherto undreamt of by them.
