It was between three and four o'clock on that same day when Angela St Just stepped out of her pretty carriage and went up the neatly kept path which led to Mrs Johnston's house. Mrs Johnston was not a favourite of hers, nor, for that matter, of anybody else. How Mercy, her nice little maidservant, managed her so wonderfully; how Miss Palliser, the girl who had lately been married and gone to America, had put up with her, was a marvel to most people. But then, Angela rather liked people whom others disliked, and she generally managed to give them a ray of brightness. She entered the little parlour now, and was received by the old lady with outstretched hand. "My dear, my dear! this is good," she said. "I am so delighted, Angela; sit dawn, and tell me all about yourself." Angela pushed back her hat and looked at old Mrs Johnston, then she said quietly: "I was determined to give you a whole hour, and here I am, and you must make the most of me, for I am leaving Castle Walworth to-day. I am going back to Hurst Castle." "Oh, dear, what a pity. Just when I thought you'd stay here for a good while." "I am sorry, but it can't be helped. My friend, Marcia--you have heard me speak of Marcia." "Of course, I have, my dear, and a wonderful young lady she is." "Well, she is in trouble. All the Aldworths are in trouble." "Are they indeed?" said Mrs Johnston. She could be sympathetic enough where anybody in the most remote degree connected with the St Justs was concerned, in especial with Angela, whom she worshipped. "I am sorry for that," she said, "if it worries you. You ought to have no worries." "But why not? But I'm not exactly worried, only, of course, I want to help them, and I am quite sure it will all come right in the end. I feel like that about everything." "You are a very blessed girl," said the old lady. Angela smiled. "God is so good to me," she said. "Well, tell me all about it--what has put you out?" "I have told you, have I not, about Mrs Aldworth? Well, you know, she is getting better. We managed to get her to Hurst Castle last week, and she is enjoying herself very much. Marcia is looking after her, and she is gradually getting more and more the use of her limbs, and a great specialist is coming from London to see her, and to give advice as to her future treatment. Everything except one now points to the possibility of a complete recovery." "And what is the one thing, my dear?" "The one thing that is making us all so anxious is this. You know I told you that there are three young Aldworth girls. Molly is one, Ethel another, and Nesta, the third. Nesta has been very difficult and very troublesome, and the fact is she has run away." Mrs Johnston did not know why she suddenly gave a little jump, but the next minute she said quickly: "How old is she?" "About fifteen, I think." "Rather big for her age?" "I should say she was; she is unformed; she is rather untidy."