They were both in good spirits and forgot Nesta. Nesta was nothing but a trouble-the-house. She would turn up when she pleased. She deserved a sound whipping, and an early putting to bed; that was what she deserved. Molly entered the room first; Ethel followed behind. Susan had lit a lamp, and the drawing room looked fairly comfortable. Angela was standing by the open window. She turned when she saw the girls and came forward to meet them. "We're so pleased and proud to know you," began Molly. "You are Molly, of course--or _are_ you Molly?" said Angela, glancing from one girl to the other. "We're awfully alike, you know," laughed Molly, "aren't we, Ethel? Yes, I am Molly, and this is Ethel. We're not twins, but there's only about a year between us. We're very glad to know you. Have you heard much about us?" "Of course I have, from Marcia, my greatest friend." Molly's eyes were fixed in fascinated wonder and open admiration on her distinguished guest. There was something intangible about Angela, something quite impossible to define; she was made for adoration; she was made for a sort of worship. Girls could never feel about her in the ordinary way. These girls certainly did not. They looked at one another, and then looked back again at Angela. "Are you tired? Are you really going to stay the night here?" said Molly at last. "I will sit down if you don't mind. No, I am not tired." "But you look so pale." "I am always pale; I never remember having a scrap of colour in my life." "I think pale people look so interesting," said Ethel. "I wish Molly and I were pale; but we flush up so when we are excited. I know I shall have scarlet cheeks in a minute or two." "That is because we are so glad to see you," said Molly. "That is a very pretty compliment," laughed Angela. "But although I'm not tired, I shouldn't mind going up to Marcia's room just to wash my hands and take my hat off." "We'll both take you," said Molly. They were immensely flattered; they were highly pleased. Angela ran upstairs as though she were another girl Aldworth, and had known the place all her days. Marcia's room was immaculately neat, but it was shabbily furnished; it was one of the poorest rooms in the house. Molly earnestly wished that she could have introduced her guest into her own room. "I wonder," she said suddenly, "where you are going to sleep to-night?" "With Marcia; she said so." "Oh, but her bed is so small, you would not be comfortable. We'd be ever so pleased if you--" "But I prefer to sleep with Marcia, and this room is quite nice." Molly ran to fetch hot water, and Ethel remembered that she had a silver brush and comb which she always kept for visits which seldom occurred. She rushed away to fetch it. Angela brushed her hair, washed her hands, said that she felt as though she had been living with the Aldworths for years, and ran downstairs again.