Flossy's first instinctive desire was to rise from her sofa and receive Sabina Meldreth standing--not at all by way of politeness, but as an intimation that the interview was not intended to be a long one. On second thoughts, she lay still. A show of languor and indifference was more likely to produce an impression on Sabina than excitement. Mrs. Vane closed her heavy white eyelids, and did not raise them until the fair-haired woman in black, whom Hubert had noticed with the singers on New Year's Eve, was standing beside her couch. "I thought you was asleep," said Miss Meldreth, with a slightly insolent air. "Some people can sleep through anything." "All the better for them," answered Mrs. Vane dryly. "Why have you come?" She was not going to admit that she had been longing to see her visitor. "I've come for the usual thing," said Sabina doggedly--"I want some money." "You had some last month." "Yes, and had to write three times for it--and me bothered about my rent. You're not carrying on business on fair terms, Mrs. Vane. I want to have a clear understanding. Mother managed all the money matters before; but she's gone now, and I should like something definite." "What do you mean by 'definite'?" "Either money down or regular quarterly payments, ma'am. You owe me that when you think of all I've done for you." "Have I done nothing for you then," said Flossy, with a red gleam in her brown eyes, "in saving you from disgrace, ridding you of a permanent burden, pensioning your mother till her death, and giving you money whenever you have asked for it? Is that nothing at all, Sabina Meldreth?" "It's something, of course," said Sabina stolidly; "but it ain't enough. I want fifty pounds a quarter, paid regular. If you give me that, I'm thinking of going back to Whitminster, where there won't be so many people poking and prying about and asking questions." Going back to Whitminster! That would be worth paying for indeed! But Flossy showed no sign of gratification. "What people have been asking questions?" "The parson, for one." "And who else?" "Well," said Sabina, rather reluctantly, "I won't say that there's any one else. But the parson's been at me more than once, and he keeps his eye upon me and preaches at me in church--and I won't stand it!" "Why do you go to church?" said Mrs. Vane with a faint sneer. "Because, if I don't, people would say I wasn't respectable," snapped Miss Meldreth; "and it's no good flying in their faces that way." "Oh! Then you wish to be thought respectable?" "Yes, I do; and, what's more, so do you, Mrs. Vane, in your own way. You're too high and mighty, and pretend to be too ill to have to go to church; but, if you was me, and heard what folks say of them that stop away, you'd go yourself." "Possibly," said Flossy; "we are in different circumstances. Now tell me--why has Mr. Evandale questioned you?" "Because of what he heard when mother lay dying, of course. I wrote and warned you at the time."