CHAPTER XXIV 

JESSY STRIKES 

It was the afternoon before Vane's departure for the North, and Evelyn, sitting alone for the time being in Mrs. Nairn's drawing-room, felt disturbed by the thought of it. She sympathized with his object, as it had been briefly related by her hostess, but she supposed there was a certain risk attached to the journey, and that troubled her. In addition to this, there was another point on which she was not altogether pleased. She had twice seen him acknowledge a bow from a very pretty girl whose general appearance suggested that she did not belong to Evelyn's own walk in life, and that very morning she had noticed him crossing a street in the young woman's company. Vane, as it happened, had met Kitty Blake by accident and had asked her to accompany him on a visit to Celia. Evelyn did not think she was of a jealous disposition, and jealousy appeared irrational in the case of a man whom she had dismissed as a suitor; but the thing undoubtedly rankled in her mind. While she was considering it, Jessy Horsfield entered the room. 

"I'm here by invitation, to join Mr. Vane's other old friends in giving him a good send-off," she explained. "Only, Mrs. Nairn told me to come over earlier." 

Evelyn noticed that Jessy laid some stress upon her acquaintance with Vane, and wondered whether she had any motive for doing so. 

"I suppose you have known him for some time?" 

"Oh, yes," was the careless answer. "My brother was one of the first to take him up when he came to Vancouver." 
Who was seating by themselves?
Where?
Was she interrupted?
By whom?
Did she feel the need to explain herself?
Why?
What direction were they going to be headed?
What time to day is it now?
Was the trip perfectly safe?
Who was her turned down love interest?
How many other females had she observed him with?
Was this a relief to her?
Why not?
Did she know any of the females' names?
How many?
What was it?
Why was her turned down love interest trying to get with this lady?
Then why was he with her?
Where did he go with her to?
Was the person who joined her comfortable with her and her turned down love interest?
Evelyn
and Evelyn, sitting alone
in Mrs. Nairn's drawing-room
and Evelyn, sitting alone for the time being in Mrs. Nairn's drawing-room
Yes
While she was considering it, Jessy Horsfield entered the room. 
Jessy Horsfield
Jessy Horsfield entered the room. 
Yes
"I'm here by invitation, to join Mr. Vane's other old friends in giving him a good send-off," she explained
because she felt disturbed by the thought of it
sitting alone for the time being in Mrs. Nairn's drawing-room, felt disturbed by the thought of it
North
before Vane's departure for the North
afternoon
It was the afternoon
No
she supposed there was a certain risk attached to the journey
Vane
Vane, as it happened
three
She had twice seen him acknowledge a bow from a very pretty girl whose general appearance suggested that she did not belong to Evelyn's own walk in life, and that very morning she had noticed him crossing a street in the young woman's company
No
the thing undoubtedly rankled in her mind
she was jealous
jealousy appeared irrational in the case of a man whom she had dismissed as a suitor; but the thing undoubtedly rankled in her mind
Yes
Vane, as it happened, had met Kitty Blake
one
Vane, as it happened, had met Kitty Blake
Kitty Blake
Vane, as it happened, had met Kitty Blake
He wasn't
Vane, as it happened, had met Kitty Blake by accident and had asked her to accompany him on a visit to Celia
Because he had met her by accident
Vane, as it happened, had met Kitty Blake by accident 
on a visit to Celia
and had asked her to accompany him on a visit to Celia
No
Jessy laid some stress upon her acquaintance with Vane