No reply from Marcia. "You know she went up to her mother because Nesta--naughty Nesta, had run away. Nesta is very naughty, isn't she?" Marcia very faintly smiled. "May I draw down this blind?" she said. "The sun is getting into your eyes." "Thank you, how kind of you--how considerate. Well, as I was saying, a servant came out and spoke to Molly, and said that her mother wanted her. Molly went in, and she came back in a few minutes and seemed quite jolly and happy. She thought that her mother was going to sleep. But it wasn't a real sleep, was it? Do tell me the truth. I have always been so anxious to know. You see, when the girls came to us, they were in such a dreadful state of grief, that we did not dare to question them, and we have never dared to question them from that day to this. But I should like to know the truth. Was it a natural sleep?" "I am sorry, very sorry," replied Marcia, "that I cannot enlighten you. That dreadful time is over, and thank God, Mrs Aldworth's life has been spared." Clara coloured; she felt the reproof in Marcia's tone. "I know you think me a very silly, curious girl," she said; "but I really do want to be nice and good and to improve myself. Now you, Miss Aldworth--" Marcia fidgeted. She rose, and opened the window. "The day is very hot," she said. "Indeed it is. We are all going to the seaside on Saturday. I suppose you couldn't spare one of the girls--Ethel, or Molly, or Nesta?" "I fear not. I wish we could, for their sakes. Our hope is that Mrs Aldworth may be better, and then we may be able to take her to the seaside." There came a ring at the front door. Marcia coloured brightly. She felt her cheeks growing hot and then cold. Clara was watching her face. "I think that is the ring of a friend of mine," she said, "and if you--" Before she could finish her sentence the door was flung open and Susan announced Miss St Just. Enter a tall girl in white, with a white muslin hat to match, and a face the like of which Clara had never seen before. The room seemed transfigured. Marcia herself sank into insignificance beside Angela. Angela came up quickly and kissed her friend. "You are surprised, Marcia? I want to take you back with me just for the day. If we are quick we can catch the next train." "Won't you introduce me?" said Clara's voice, somewhat high-strained and mincing, at that moment. "Oh, I beg your pardon. Angela, this is Miss Carter, Miss Clara Carter." Angela turned. There was no false pride about her. "You live at Court Prospect?" she said, "our old place. How do you do? I hope you like it." "Very much indeed," said Clara, stammering in her eagerness. "It is a lovely place. We have, I think--and we'd be proud to show it to you-- improved the place immensely." "Improved it?" said Angela. "The cedar avenue, and the beech avenue, and the old Elizabethan garden?"