Now, Mrs Aldworth was herself, with her own delicate fingers, making a new blouse for Nesta. It was a very pretty one, of delicate pink silk, with embroidery trimming it all round the neck and round the pretty fancy sleeves. Mrs Aldworth wanted to try it on, and there was no Nesta to be found. The other girls were slighter than Nesta, who was a very buxom young woman for her years. What was the matter? What was to be done? Still she was not seriously alarmed, for Marcia managed to keep her mind at rest. Nesta was out, she would be in soon. But when lunch time came, and no Nesta appeared, Marcia sent a hurried line to Angela to tell her that she might, after all, not be able to go to Hurst Castle that day. She certainly would not leave the Aldworths while they were in anxiety. Angela had replied that she was coming into Newcastle, and would go and pay the Carters a visit. She would wait for Marcia, and take her back. It was late that evening when Angela did call for Marcia. She drew up her little pony carriage outside the door; she had driven all the way from Hurst Castle, but the ponies were fresh from their long rest in the old Court Prospect stables. Angela waited in the porch. "I won't come in to-night," she said to Susan. "Just go up and say that Miss St Just is waiting." Marcia came down. Her face was very pale. "Oh, my dear Angela," she said. "Whatever will you think of me? What is to be done? I have spent such a miserable day. We are all most anxious." "What?" said Angela, "haven't you found the truant yet?" "No; we have searched high and low, all over the place. We don't want to alarm people. We could, of course, send a telegram to father and Horace, but we don't want to do that." "She is evidently a very naughty girl," said Angela. "I am afraid she is; she is terribly self-willed," said Marcia with a sigh. "I'm not a scrap uneasy about her," said Angela. "She is quite certain to have taken care of herself. But what frets me is that you are looking so white, dear. You want your holiday so badly." "I can't really go with you to-night; I am ever so sorry, Angela, but it is quite impossible." "Then let me stay and help you." "Oh, I can't do that!" but Marcia's eyes expressed a longing. "Now, why shouldn't I stay?" said Angela. "I have always longed to see Mrs Aldworth. You might bring me up to her, mightn't you?" "I wonder if I dare?" "Of course, you can, dear. Have I ever tired or frightened any one in the whole course of my life?" "You have been so shamefully neglected, dear, and what will your father say?" "I'll send him a wire telling him not to expect us to-night. Or, better still, I'll send the carriage home with a note. He'll get it just when he is expecting me, and he will be quite contented in his mind." "Well, then, if you will, you can share my room." "Certainly," said Angela lightly. "You have been a long time at the Carters'," said Marcia.