Carmella Commands
property was worth it, then she believed that her position would yet be secure. If not⸺
Then she could run away from home. Other girls had.
Whatever happened, it interested her vastly just then to study arithmetic, which suddenly appeared to her to be a science of much utility.
On arriving home from school that afternoon, calmer of spirit and pleased with the sense of richness that a new interest inspires, she was surprised to find a message asking her to go to Hope House again.
She had not expected it, and yet—deep in her heart she had known that she would see Mrs. Barrington again soon. The message said Miss Sargle wished to see her, but Carmella would not have responded had she not been certain that Miss Sargle was merely acting for Mrs. Barrington.
First Carmella asked Maria. The latter hesitated, but yielded to the look of queer pleading in her daughter’s dancing eyes.
“I’m glad you could come, Kate,” said Mrs. Barrington, as Carmella entered. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“Yes, Mrs. Barrington.”
“You know you said the other day that I was ‘high hat.’”
“Yes, Mrs. Barrington.”
“But you were called away before you explained it. Of course I know something of what you mean. But
[55]
