CHAPTER VII. AN EMPTY NEST 



There had been no injunctions of secrecy, and though neither Miss Mohun nor Gillian had publicly mentioned the subject, all Rockquay who cared for the news knew by Sunday morning that Lady Merrifield's two elder daughters were engaged. 

Gillian, in the course of writing her letters, had become somewhat familiarised with the idea, and really looked forward to talking it over with Kalliope. Though that young person could hardly be termed Alethea's best friend, it was certain that Alethea stood foremost with her, and that her interest in the matter would be very loving. 

Accordingly, Kalliope was at the place of meeting even before Gillian, and anxiously she looked as she said--- 

'May I venture---may I ask if it is true?' 

'True? Oh yes, Kally, I knew you would care.' 

'Indeed, I well may. There is no expressing how much I owe to dear Miss Alethea and Lady Merrifield, and it is such a delight to hear of them.' 

Accordingly, Gillian communicated the facts as she knew them, and offered to give any message. 

'Only my dear love and congratulations,' said Kalliope, with a little sigh. 'I should like to have written, but---' 

'But why don't you, then?' 

'Oh no; she would be too much engaged to think of us, and it would only worry her to be asked for her advice.' 

'I think I know what it is about,' said Gillian. 

'How? Oh, how do you know? Did Mr. Flight say anything?' 

'Mr. Flight?' exclaimed Gillian. 'What has he to do with it?' 
Whose daughters were engaged?
How many daughters were engaged?
Were they the youngest daughters?
What city do they live in?
When did the people learn the news
What hadn't talked about it?
Who else?
Where did Gillian go?
Who got there first?
What is one of Merrifield's daughters named?
Did Kalliope write the daughters?
What message did Kalliope want to send?
Did Gillian know what happened?
What did Gillian offer to do?
Is Gillian Aleathea's best friend?
What about Kalliope?
What does Gillian write?
Was the engagement supposed to be secret?
Did Kalliope know for sure if Alethea was enegaged?
Does she owe anything to Alethea?
Lady Merrifield's
 Lady Merrifield's two elder daughters were engaged. 
two
Lady Merrifield's two elder daughters were engaged. 
no
Lady Merrifield's two elder daughters were engaged.
Rockquay
 all Rockquay who cared for the news knew by Sunday morning that Lady Merrifield's two elder daughters were engaged. 
Sunday morning
 all Rockquay who cared for the news knew by Sunday morning
Miss Mohun
 neither Miss Mohun nor Gillian had publicly mentioned the subject
Gillian
neither Miss Mohun nor Gillian had publicly mentioned the subject,
the place of meeting?
Kalliope was at the place of meeting even before Gillian
Kalliope
Accordingly, Kalliope was at the place of meeting even before Gillian
Alethea
'Indeed, I well may. There is no expressing how much I owe to dear Miss Alethea
no
. 'I should like to have written, but---' 
love and congratulations
'Only my dear love and congratulations,' said Kalliope, 
yes
Accordingly, Gillian communicated the facts as she knew them
give a message
Accordingly, Gillian communicated the facts as she knew them, and offered to give any message. 
unknown
unknown
no
Though that young person could hardly be termed Alethea's best friend,
letters
Gillian, in the course of writing her letters,
no
There had been no injunctions of secrecy,
no
'May I venture---may I ask if it is true?' 
yes
'Indeed, I well may. There is no expressing how much I owe to dear Miss Alethea and Lady Merrifield, 