Until quite late in the afternoon, until the winter’s day had faded into dark, Nance and Lady Georgina, or rather Lady Georgina herself, entertained the county at Rowton Heights. Each neighbour with the least pretensions to gentility hastened to pay respect to Rowton’s fair bride. “You must begin to return all these visits in a few days,” said Lady Georgina. “I cannot until Adrian comes back,” said Nance. “Oh! nonsense, you must manage to lead an interested and happy life apart from that husband of yours.” “No, I won’t,” said Nance proudly. “Oh! you won’t. You will sing a different tune after a time. I tell you, Mrs. Rowton, he has got his own pursuits, and he will follow them to the death in spite of you or twenty girls like you, and you’ll die of _ennui_ if you have not your own individual interests. You must begin to return these calls by the end of the week, and then invitations will pour in. If Mr. Rowton is at home he will go with you, if not, you must go by yourself or with me. I shall be delighted to chaperone you to any extent.” Nance bowed her head somewhat wearily. A good deal of Lady Georgina’s gay chatter was scarcely heard by her. She admitted all the kindness, but her heart was sore, and she longed indescribably to be alone. When the good lady at last took her leave, Nancy could not help giving vent to a sigh of relief. Soon afterwards she went upstairs to bed. On the way to her own room, just outside the door she came face to face with her maid, Hester, who was talking to an elderly woman, with sandy hair and a broad freckled face. The woman had straight lips, a jaw of iron, and pale light blue eyes. She was dressed very neatly, but not in the dress of an ordinary servant. Her hair was tightly braided and she wore it perfectly smooth. “Well, good night, Leah,” said Hester, as Mrs. Rowton appeared on the scene. The woman called Leah favoured Nancy with a prolonged and undoubtedly curious stare. “Good evening, ma’am,” she said; then she dropped a curtsey and disappeared down a passage. “Who is that?” asked Nancy of Hester. “She is the caretaker of the poor mad lady,” replied Hester. “Then what is she doing in this part of the house?” “She was only talking to me about her charge, Mrs. Rowton. She says that poor Mrs. Cameron is very queer to-night, and Leah wanted to know if I would go and help her to sit up with her.” “Well, of course you won’t, Hester,” said Nance. “I do not know anything about the case, but you surely want your night’s rest, and I am sure Mr. Rowton——” “Oh!” said Hester, with a toss of her head, “Mr. Rowton would not interfere with a thing of this sort. Leah does want help at times, for Mrs. Cameron is terribly violent. Indeed, I cannot make out why she is not put into an asylum like other mad ladies.” “It is not your business to discuss that question,” replied Nance.