The light was fading fast, now, and the room displeased me. I left the Chamber of Myths in a hurry, and went down to the kitchen to have tea with Drake and his wife. I said nothing to them about the discovery I had made, but when I left the house I was firmly convinced that Cousin Geoffrey's eccentricity must have bordered on madness. What _did_ he mean by the "Chamber of Myths"? What were the myths? Perhaps my mother could tell me. I would question her the first moment I had an opportunity. It was rather late when I went back to Hetty. I thought how pleased she would be to see the ruby ring, how pretty she would look when she opened her eyes wide to gaze at it. How charmed and bewildered she would be if I let her wear it for a moment on her slim third finger. Hetty had lovely little hands. Her wedding finger would look dainty, circled with this ruby ring. I too had small hands, but I could only get it on my smallest finger. The moment I got in Hetty pointed with excitement to a telegram which lay upon the little table at her side. "It has been here for two hours, Rose," she said. "Do open it quickly. I am so anxious to know what is in it. Perhaps it is about Jack. Perhaps he is worse." "You poor little thing," I replied. "Why did you not open the envelope yourself, if you are so upset with nervous terrors? Now let me see what this precious yellow envelope contains." "Well?" said Hetty. I was reading the telegram to myself. My face showed heightened colour and annoyance. "Well?" she said again. "_Do_ speak, please, Rose." "It is nothing about Jack," I said then. "Nothing at all?" "Nothing at all; the telegram is from my home, but it is about--about another matter." This was the other matter--these were the contents of the telegram. "Lady Ursula Redmayne and Captain Rupert Valentine have just been here, asking to see you. Will call at your lodgings in Putney, to-morrow, before eleven. Lady U. in great distress. Gave your address under pressure." This long telegram from my mother showed most reckless extravagance. I could imagine how Lady Ursula had worked upon her feelings. "But I am not going to give you up, little ring," I said, kissing it. CHAPTER TEN. RELATIONS. I parried Hetty's curious remarks with regard to the telegram, putting her off at first with vague replies, then speaking decidedly. "I have had a message from my mother, dear Hetty," I said; "nothing at all about Jack, nothing that will interest you." "Oh, of course, Rosamund--" Hetty's pale face flushed vividly. She took up some knitting she was trying to get through, a sock for Jack, of course. I saw her poor little fingers trembling. She was the most sensitive little creature. A touch, a word, sent her into herself. She felt so unsure of her position, so unsure of everything, except that she had a great hungry wealth of love to give away to those who would receive it of her.