"You mean Miss St Just," said Marcia steadily. "Why mayn't I call her Angela as well as you?" "Simply because, Nesta, you don't know her." "Well, Miss St Just, whatever you like to call her." "And how could Miss Carter possibly know that my friend was coming to see me to-day?" "Because she knew from her father that Sir Edward had to come to Newcastle for an important meeting, and she guessed somehow, that Miss Angela--I must call her that--would come also, and she is just coming on purpose that you may introduce her. She doesn't want to say so, but she wants to talk to you until Miss St Just arrives, and you mustn't gainsay her. You won't--will you? It's the greatest fun in the world-- it means a great deal to me." "Now, Nesta, what can it mean?" "I won't tell you. You can't turn her away--you can't be so rude. There she is, sitting by the window. She's a dear old thing." Nesta did not accompany Marcia into the drawing room. Marcia went forward and shook hands with Clara, who was looking as such a girl must look when she is particularly anxious to make an impression. Clara, in her cotton frock, with her wild, somewhat untidy mop of hair, was at least natural at Court Prospect; but Clara, with that same hair confined in every direction by invisible nets, with her showy hat, and her dress altogether out of taste, her hands forced into gloves a size too small for her, was by no means a very pleasing object to contemplate. She could not boast of good looks, and she had no style to recommend her. She was natural with the younger Aldworths, but Marcia rather frightened her. She came forward, however, and spoke enthusiastically. "It is good of you, Miss Aldworth, to give me some of your valuable time. I assure you I'm as proud as possible. I said to Mabel this morning, and to Annie, that I would come to see you. Father was driving into Newcastle to attend that meeting of the Agriculturists. Of course father, as you may know, is on the Board." Marcia made no reply. "He is on the Board, and will be made Chairman at the next election of officers. It is a most important matter, isn't it, Miss Aldworth? You are interested in the welfare of the farmers, are you not?" "I regret to say that I don't know anything about them," said Marcia. "I have lived a great deal out of England," she continued, "and since I came home I have been much occupied." "Oh, yes," said Clara with enthusiasm, "we all know how noble you have been--you saved the life of the poor dear girls' mamma, didn't you?" "No, it was God who did that." "Oh, thank you so much for reproving me. I didn't mean in that way. But for you, for your finding her just when you did, she might have died. It was very awful, wasn't it? I did so pity Molly and Ethel. You see, they had invited us to tea, and they gave us, poor girls, a very nice meal; we all quite enjoyed it, and Molly looked so pretty in her blue dress. I think Molly is quite pretty, don't you?"