We turned up on time, but she didn't--she didn't turn up at all!" Miss Bart made this announcement in the tone of one who presents, with careless assurance, a complete vindication; but Mrs.Fisher received it in a manner almost inconsequent.

She seemed to have lost sight of her friend's part in the incident: her inward vision had taken another slant.
"Bertha never turned up at all?
Then how on earth did she get back ?" "Oh, by the next train, I suppose; there were two extra ones for the FETE.

At any rate, I know she's safe on the yacht, though I haven't yet seen her; but you see it was not my fault," Lily summed up.
"Not your fault that Bertha didn't turn up?
My poor child, if only you don't have to pay for it!" Mrs.Fisher rose--she had seen Mrs.Bry surging back in her direction.

"There's Louisa, and I must be off--oh, we're on the best of terms externally; we're lunching together; but at heart it's ME she's lunching on," she explained; and with a last hand-clasp and a last look, she added: "Remember, I leave her to you; she's hovering now, ready to take you in." Lily carried the impression of Mrs.Fisher's leave-taking away with her from the Casino doors.

She had accomplished, before leaving, the first step toward her reinstatement in Mrs.Bry's good graces.