would ask Lucia if she might talk to this Rose
Seville.

Betty had not long to wait and when Lucia
came into the room to find her she told her that
she had a “mystery to solve,” a statement that
interested Lucia exceedingly. They sat down to-
gether on the soft cushions of a handsome dav-
enport while Betty told Lucia “all about it.”
With a bit of her mother's energy and direct
efficiency, Lucia jumped up and declared that
they would find out at once. Two eager girls
ran up the stairs to the sewing room, which the
countess was just leaving.

“Wait a minute, Mother, please,” asked Lucia.
“Betty wants to speak to Rose and I think you
will be interested.”

Smilingly, and with her usual poise, the
countess waited, Lucia slipping her hand into
that of her mother and standing back a little,
near the door, while Betty stepped closer to
the girl that raised such surprised but beautiful
eyes to her.

“Excuse me, Miss Seville,” said Betty, “but
your name reminds me of some one that I do
not know, but -- that I may have some good news
for.” Betty spoke rather stumblingly, in her
effort not to startle the girl if she were the lost
“Rosie.”

[[239]]

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