So many things had happened in the past that she was always on the alert for some new calamity.
"You haven't lost your place, have you?"
"No," replied Jennie, with an effort to maintain her mental poise, "but I'm going to leave it."
"No!" exclaimed her mother.
"Why?"
"I'm going to New York."
Her mother's eyes opened widely.
"Why, when did you decide to do that?" she inquired.
"To-day."
"You don't mean it!"
"Yes, I do, mamma.
Listen.
I've got something I want to tell you.
You know how poor we are.
There isn't any way we can make things come out right.
I have found some one who wants to help us.
He says he loves me, and he wants me to go to New York with him Monday.
I've decided to go."
"Oh, Jennie!" exclaimed her mother. "Surely not!
You wouldn't do anything like that after all that's happened.
Think of your father."
"I've thought it all out," went on Jennie, firmly.
"It's really for the best.
He's a good man. I know he is.
He has lots of money.
He wants me to go with him, and I'd better go.
He will take a new house for us when we come back and help us to get along.
No one will ever have me as a wife—you know that.
It might as well be this way.
He loves me.
And I love him.
Why shouldn't I go?"
"Does he know about Vesta?" asked her mother cautiously.
"No," said Jennie guiltily.
"I thought I'd better not tell him about her.
She oughtn't to be brought into it if I can help it."
"I'm afraid you're storing up trouble for yourself, Jennie," said her mother.
"Don't you think he is sure to find it out some time?"
"I thought maybe that she could be kept here," suggested Jennie, "until she's old enough to go to school.
Then maybe I could send her somewhere."
"She might," assented her mother; "but don't you think it would be better to tell him now?
He won't think any the worse of you."
"It isn't that.
It's her," said Jennie passionately.
"I don't want her to be brought into it."
Her mother shook her head.
"Where did you meet him?" she inquired.
"At Mrs. Bracebridge's."
"How long ago?"
"Oh, it's been almost two months now."