andinfactshehadalreadyaplanforcomingtoStoller’sassistancebygettingatBurnamythroughMissTriscoe，whomshesuspectedofknowingwherehewas。Therehadbeennochanceforthemtospeakofhimeitherthatmorningortheeveningbefore，andafteragreatdealofcontroversywithherselfinherhusband’spresenceshedecidedtowaittilltheycamenaturallytogetherthenextmorningforthewalktotheCapuchinChurchonthehillbeyondtheriver，whichtheyhadagreedtotake。ShecouldnotkeepfromwritinganotetoMissTriscoebegginghertobesuretocome，andhintingthatshehadsomethingveryimportanttospeakof。
Shewasnotsurebutshehadbeenrathersillytodothis，butwhentheymetthegirlconfessedthatshehadthoughtofgivingupthewalk，andmightnothavecomeexceptforMrs。March’snote。ShehadcomewithRose，andhadlefthimbelowwithMarch；Mrs。AddingwascominglaterwithKenbyandGeneralTriscoe。
Mrs。Marchlostnotimeintellingherthegreatnews；andifshehadbeenindoubtbeforeofthegirl’sfeelingforBurnamyshewasnowinnone。Shehadthepleasureofseeingherflushwithhope，andthenthepainwhichwasalsoapleasure，ofseeingherblanchwithdismay。
“Idon’tknowwhereheis，Mrs。March。Ihaven’theardawordfromhimsincethatnightinCarlsbad。Iexpected——Ididn’tknowbutyou——“
Mrs。Marchshookherhead。ShetreatedthefactskillfullyassomethingtoberegrettedsimplybecauseitwouldbesucharelieftoBurnamytoknowhowMr。Stollernowfelt。Ofcoursetheycouldreachhimsomehow；