As I was completing my toilet the dinner gong sounded solemn and loud through the house. I had heard the hall-door bell ring two or three times. I knew that the guests had arrived. Still I lingered, putting final touches. At the last moment I pinned a bunch of the softest blush roses, which must have come straight from the Riviera, in the front of my dress. There was no need to add anything further. A glance in the mirror revealed to me that the roses which lay near my heart matched in hue those which tinted my cheeks. For the time being I was beautiful--I was a picture, a walking picture out of long ago. I was glad to be the last to enter the drawing-room. I wanted to startle Mr Gray; to show him that he had presumed. I had no thought to give to any one else at that moment. CHAPTER TWENTY. LIKE AN OLD PICTURE. Tottie was right when she said that several young men were coming to dinner. They were all more or less at home however; they were accustomed to the house and its ways. I saw when I entered the drawing-room that I was the greatest stranger present. Captain Valentine and his brother were both in the room, but Lady Ursula Redmayne was not one of Mr Gray's guests. I had thought to startle Mr Gray by the magnificence and quaintness of my toilet; but I must own that I forgot all about him when I glanced up and encountered an earnest, puzzled, respectful look from the wide-open eyes of my cousin Tom. Like a flash my mind reverted to a memory which a moment ago I had forgotten. I was back again in my room reading Cousin Geoffrey's will. I blushed all over as the hateful remembrance of the conditions of that will filled my brain. "I cannot see this visit out," I said, under my breath; "I cannot even spend a second night under this roof. I must go away, I must return home, for never, never can I fulfil the conditions of Cousin Geoffrey's will." At this moment Captain Valentine came up and offered me his arm. I was relieved to find that my other cousin was not to take me in to dinner; but matters were scarcely improved for me when I discovered that he sat exactly at the opposite side of the table, and that I could scarcely raise my eyes without encountering his. "We were greatly disappointed not to meet you in the Chamber of Myths," said Captain Valentine. "I think Lady Ursula very nearly cried. The fact is, you have roused her profoundest interest, Miss Lindley." "I am very much obliged to Lady Ursula," I answered. "It was cruel to disappoint us all," pursued Captain Valentine, "particularly when you gave no adequate reason." "That was just it," I retorted. "Had I come I should not have been entertaining. I had no news to bring--I had nothing to say." "But you promised to tell us something of the contents of the letter." "I found I could not keep my promise. That letter, as far as we, any of us, are concerned, might as well never have been written."