“Tell mamma I will be there in a few minutes.  I am almost through packing, and if I were you, Gussie, I would go at once and see if that Robinson girl will come and stay with you till the new cook arrives; and do have a care how you speak to her, for mamma’s sake.  Do not imagine that something will happen to prevent me going away, for that is a settled fact!”

Gussie hastened back to her mother in alarm.

“She is really going, mamma, and says she won’t come out of her room until she gets her trunk packed.  Oh! what shall we do with no one in the house to do a thing for us!  I did not mean to vex her when I spoke to her as I did,” bursting into tears.

“So it is your fault that, she is going!  Are my troubles not heavy enough that you drive the only help I have away from me?  What will become of us if Dexie leaves us, for you are as useless as you are extravagant!” And the mother scolded and complained as if Gussie alone were responsible for the trouble.  “Go at once and make some amends for your ill-tempered words,” she added, “and perhaps Dexie will overlook it, for my sake.”

Gussie returned to the closed door, and in contrite tones begged for admittance.

“Do let me come in, Dexie.  I am sorry I vexed you, and you are not in earnest about going away, surely, for you know we cannot spare you.”

Dexie threw open the door, saying:  “Come in and judge for yourself, Gussie.  You see I really am going,” she said, snapping the catch of her travelling bag.  “If my sudden departure puts the rest of the family to inconvenience, you can blame yourself for it, Gussie; but you are just as strong as I am, and should be able to fill my place.  However, if you think yourself above being useful, I hope you will not delay in getting someone else here, for you know you could not have driven me out at a more inconvenient time, for there is literally nothing cooked in the house.”

“But where are you going?  Not to auntie’s with Louie, surely?”

“No.  I should not like auntie to have a worse opinion of you than she has already.  In leaving home I am consulting my own happiness, and I am going where I shall be kindly treated and warmly welcomed.”

“Well, I’m sorry now I said anything to vex you, Dexie; so you need not go, after all.”

“Your repentance comes too late, Gussie, for my plans are made; but I do not want to go away with any ill-feelings to any one, so here is my hand, Gussie.”

“Oh, if you are really going, I’ll not shake hands and make up with you!  If we only had some help in the house I would be glad to get rid of you.  I don’t believe mamma will let you go, anyway,” and with a toss of her head she left the room, saying to herself:  “She’ll have to unpack her things when mamma gets hold of her, so why need I humble myself to her.”

Dexie was soon in her mother’s room, listening to the reproaches that were heaped upon her without stint; but as no reply was given to them, Mrs. Sherwood looked at her intently, and something in the mother’s heart brought to her attention the wan, white face of her daughter.  She had not noticed that Dexie looked so worn and thin, and for a moment her heart smote her.