"Yes; don't let's speak to her. We'll try the effect for a week. We'll do our duty, of course. We'll go into mother's room in turn, and we'll give up everything for our mother's sake, and we'll deny ourselves, and we'll never speak to Marcia at all. When we are at meals, if she forces us to speak, we'll say yes and no, but that's all, unless Horace or father is present. We'll leave her quite to herself; she shall have her free hours, and her time for writing, and we wish her joy of it." This plan of action being determined on, the girls went to bed with a certain sense of consolation. It was Ethel's turn to spend the morning with the invalid on the following day, and she determinedly went there without a word. The effect of the Coventry system seemed at first to be but small. During breakfast that morning Marcia was absorbed in some letters she had received. She asked her father the best way to get to Hurst Castle. "Why do you want to go there?" asked her parent. "I have had a letter from Angela St Just. She is most anxious to see me." Ethel very nearly dropped the cup of tea which she was raising to her lips. "Angela St Just?" she murmured under her breath. Even Mr Aldworth looked interested. "Do you know her?" he asked. "Of course I do; she was one of Mrs Silchester's pupils. She wants me to go and see her, and, if I can be spared, to spend a little time there in the summer. I have had a long letter from her." "She was a remarkably handsome girl; I remember that," said Mr Aldworth. "Well, to be sure, and so she was at that school." "You forget, father," said Marcia, "that Mrs Silchester is Sir Edward St Just's sister-in-law." "Indeed? That is news." Horace made one or two remarks. "I am glad you know her so well, Marcia, and I hope you will have a pleasant time when you go to Hurst Castle. You say Sir Edward is staying there at present?" "Yes, with some relatives." "And Angela?" "Yes, they're going to spend some months there this summer." Marcia then calmly read her remaining letters and then, just nodding towards Ethel, she said: "I think it is your turn to look after mother, dear," and she left the room. But just as she reached the door she came back. "Be very careful, dear Ethel, not to allow her to sit in the sun. It is such a beautiful day that I think you might wheel her on to the balcony, where she can get some fresh air. Just do your best to make her happy. I shall be so pleased if I see her looking bright and comfortable this afternoon." To these remarks Ethel proudly withheld any comment Marcia, not in the least disturbed, hurried away. "Well," said Nesta, when her father and brother and elder sister had made themselves scarce, "she doesn't seem to be much put out by the beginning of Coventry; does she, Molly?" "She's so eaten up with pride," said Molly, "talking about her Angela St Just and her Hurst Castle--snobbish, I call it, don't you, Ethel?"