"I must see her. It is most important. It has something to do with the St Justs," said Nesta. She was desperate and had to make up an excuse to secure her interview at any cost. The servant girl was impressed by the word St Just, and telling Nesta she might stay in the hall and she would inquire, she went away to find her mistress. Mrs Johnston's celebrated rheumatism was at its worst that day. She was consequently more cranky than usual, and less inclined to be civil to any who wanted her. "A girl, did you say, Mercy? Speak out, my lass. What sort of a girl?" "A kind of lady girl, ma'am." "A stranger?" "Yes; I never seen her before." "Did she say what she wanted?" "I think the people from the Castle sent her, ma'am. She said it was to do with the St Justs." "Why, then, for goodness' sake show her in. I am expecting Miss Angela, and perhaps she will call some time to-day. We must have the place in apple-pie order. I hope to goodness that girl hasn't come to say that Miss Angela can't come. I've been counting on her visit more than anything." "In course, you have, ma'am, and no wonder. She's a beautiful young lady." "Well, show the other young lady in, Mercy," said Mrs Johnston; "but tell her that I'm bad with the rheumatics and I can't entertain her long. If I ring the bell twice, Mercy, you will bring up the gingerbread and milk; but if I ring it three times, it will be for the gingerbread and cowslip wine, and if I don't ring it at all, why, you are to bring up nothing. It all depends on what the young lady wants." How poor Nesta would have enjoyed the gingerbread and milk, let alone the gingerbread and cowslip wine which she was never to taste, for her diet at the Hoggs' was the reverse of appetising. Try as she would she could scarcely manage it; hunger would, of course, bring her to it in time. But although she was nearly starving for her ordinary food, she was not hungry enough yet for the food which the Hoggs consumed. Mercy came back to her. "You may come in, Miss," she said. "It is entirely because you are a young lady from the Castle; but my missis wishes to tell you that her rheumatics are awful bad to-day. You'll be as gentle as you can with her, Miss." Nesta nodded, and entered the room, the door of which Mercy held open for her. Now, Nesta could never be remarked for her graceful or gentle movements, and she managed, in coming into the room, to excite Mrs Johnston's quickly aroused ire, by knocking violently against a little table which held a tray full of some pretty silver ornaments. One of them was knocked down, and the whole arrangement was destroyed. "Clumsy girl!" muttered Mrs Johnston under her breath. She looked up with a frown on her face as Nesta approached. Mercy stooped to rearrange the silver ornaments. "Go away, Mercy, for goodness' sake!" snapped the old lady. "Shut the door, and remember about the bell. If I don't ring, bring nothing whatever, Mercy. You understand?"