"
"It may be long before Louise is much better," Mrs. Whately replied
gravely. "She has been subjected to a strain for which my conscience
reproaches me, however it may be with yours. She is in a very
critical state, and seemingly from some recent shock."
"Can the news Chunk brought have had any such effect?" broke forth
Mrs. Baron indignantly--"news of the death of that Yankee whom she
met and treated as a social equal sorely against my will?"
"Lieutenant Scoville dead!" exclaimed Mrs. Whately looking shocked
and sad.
"Yes, so Chunk told his granny."
Mrs. Whately was troubled indeed. Perhaps there had been much more
than she had suspected. If so, this fact would account for the
girl's extreme prostration. To bring these tidings might have been
one of Chunk's chief motives in venturing on his brief visit. Miss
Lou might know all about the visit and even have seen Chunk herself.
If this were true, punishment of those who were in a sense her
accomplices would be all the more disastrous.
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