Accepting each other's silence for the statement that Elfrida had sent no word, they ceased to talk of her--as a topic her departure had become painful to both of them.

Janet's anxiety finally conquered her scruples, and she betook herself to Essex Court to inquire of Mrs.Jordan.

That lady was provokingly mysterious, and made the difficulty of ascertaining that she knew nothing whatever about Miss Bell's movements as great as possible.

Janet saw an acquaintance with some collateral circumstance in her eyes, however, and was just turning away irritated by her vain attempts to obtain it, when Mrs.Jordan, decided that the pleasure of the revelation would be, after all, greater than the pleasure of shielding the facts.
"Wether it 'as anything to do with Miss Bell or not, of course I can't say," Mrs.Jordan remarked, with conscientious hypocrisy, "but Mr.Ticke, _he_ left town that same mornin'." She looked disappointed when Miss Cardiff received this important detail indifferently.
"Oh, nothing whatever," Janet replied, with additional annoyance that Elfrida should have subjected herself to such an insinuation.

Janet had a thoroughgoing dislike to Golightly Ticke.