Chapter XI: A Sister's Danger

"NOW, Molly, remember you are not to meet me at the theatre to-night. There's no need, as I shall not be coming back here again," said Kathleen to her sister the next morning. She spoke sharply. The emotion she had shown on the previous night was no longer visible in word or look.

Molly was about to set off for her morning's work at the boarding-house. She started at her sister's words, and turned towards her with a beseeching look:

"Oh, Kathleen, let me come," she pleaded; "you know I promised father."

"No, you must not come. I will not have you come. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but oh, Kathleen! I 'must' come. I cannot stay away."

"How tiresome you are Molly!" exclaimed Kathleen, and in sudden anger she raised her hand and struck Molly in the face.

Molly shrunk back—her face crimson, her heart throbbing.

Never would Kathleen forget the look of pain and reproach with which her little sister quitted the room and went off to her work.

That look haunted Kathleen during the rest of the day. For the first time, it struck her how pale and thin Molly had looked of late. A small sickly child she had ever been, but surely she had not before looked so ill as she now did? A pang of compunction visited Kathleen, as she reflected how completely she had failed to cherish her little sister.

Molly went about her work that morning with an aching heart. The recollection of Kathleen's loving words as she bade her good-night, made it easy for her to forgive the hasty blow. But the thought of the coming separation and her fears for her sister's future rendered her most unhappy.

Madame Ganelli, meeting the child on the stairs, was struck with the woebegone expression of her little face.

"Why, what is the matter with you, Molly?" she exclaimed. "You look as if you were suffering all the woes of the world. And what is the meaning of that red mark on your forehead? Have you had a fall?"

Thus questioned, Molly could only cry.

Madame Ganelli saw that something had gone seriously wrong with her little friend.

"Come in here, child," she said, opening the door of her own room; "come in here, and tell me quietly what it is that troubles you."

For some minutes Molly's sobs prevented her from speaking. But at last, growing calmer, she was able to explain Kathleen's intention of leaving her, and the distress it gave her.

Madame Ganelli listened in silence till Molly mentioned Mr. Vavasour's name. At the sound of that name, the lady started and turned pale.

"Vavasour, did you say!" she exclaimed. "Tell me, do you mean the man acting under that name at the S— Theatre?"

Molly nodded.

"Oh dear! Oh dear!" cried the singer, greatly agitated. "You must not let your sister have anything to say to that man, you must not indeed, my child! I know him well; he is a bad, unprincipled man!"

"I knew it!" cried Molly. "I was sure that he was bad, but Kathleen would not listen to me. Oh! What shall I do?"

"You must save her from that man at whatever cost!" said Madame Ganelli, solemnly. "Beseech her, as she values her own soul, to shun his friendship. Do not let her out of your sight, Molly; and if he should persist in annoying her, just name me to him, and see what effect that will have. I would go with you to the theatre and confront him, but I am obliged to sing at a concert to-night; and even now I have an engagement for which I shall be too late if I stay another moment. But oh, Molly! Pay heed to my words—you must save your sister from that man!"

"I will! I will!" cried Molly, earnestly, as the lady hastened away.

Trembling and frightened, Molly went back to her work. It was hard to do it with such anxiety and fear working in her heart. But she prayed to the unseen Friend, and He gave her the strength she needed.

She was thankful when the hour of dismissal came, and she was free to run home. It was a cold, cheerless day, but Molly ran home so fast that she was hot and breathless when she reached the house. Hurrying up the stairs, she opened the door of the attic, only to find, to her surprise, that Kathleen was not there.

"She will be in soon," thought Molly, though her heart sunk within her.

She began to prepare dinner, but she might have spared herself the trouble, for the dinner-hour came and went, and time passed on, yet Kathleen did not come. Fearing further reproaches and pleadings from Molly, she chose to walk about the streets, and make her dinner of a hot pie, rather than face her sister.

Her absence made Molly very uneasy. Too heart-sick to eat, she sat and waited, growing faint and weary and more and more anxious as the hours went on. She would have gone out to seek her sister, but feared to miss her by so doing, and she wished to lose no time in warning Kathleen against Mr. Vavasour.

After a while, Molly went to Mrs. Jones, and asked if she could tell her at what hour Kathleen had gone out, and whether she had left any message. But Mrs. Jones knew nothing of Kathleen's movements. She had not seen the girl all day.

So, with growing anxiety, Molly went back to her lonely attic.

She must save her sister, Madame Ganelli had said, but how was she to do it? She did not even know where Kathleen was at this hour. Oh! She would do anything, anything to save Kathleen from evil, but it seemed beyond her power.

There was One, however, who could help her. Surely the Lord Jesus would save Kathleen. He knew where she was. His eye was upon her. He could defend her from harm. And, falling on her knees, Molly entreated the Lord to have pity upon Kathleen!