"I was not going to allude to _facts_," was the retort of Mrs. Chandos, her tone peevish at the interruption. "My lady asked me if I could bear trouble; fiery trouble, such as had rarely overtaken one in my rank of life before; and my answer was to fall into a fainting fit at her feet. Never, since then, have I liked to hear the rain pattering down on the leaves where the trees are thick." I would have shut my door, but feared it might look ungracious to do so. They had eyes, and could see that it was open, if they pleased to look; therefore they might choose their subjects accordingly. Mrs. Chandos resumed. "Who _is_ that young lady? She came up the stairs, and I spoke without looking round, thinking it was you." "I don't know who. A Miss Hereford. She came here with Madame de Mellissie as travelling companion." "But she is a stranger to Lady Chandos?" "Entirely so." "Then why does Lady Chandos permit her to be here? Is it well, in this house of misfortune? Is it prudent?" "Scarcely so. Of course Lady Chandos can only hope—how you are squeezing that kitten, my dear!" "Pretty little thing! it likes to be squeezed," responded Mrs. Chandos. "It is hiding itself from you; from that ugly bonnet. You do wear frightful bonnets, Mrs. Freeman; as ugly as the black ones of Lady Chandos." "I do not think widows' bonnets ugly," was the reply of Mrs. Freeman. "To some faces they are particularly becoming." "They are so ugly, so disfiguring, that I hope it will be long before I am called upon to wear them," returned Mrs. Chandos, speaking impulsively. "Were my husband to die—but there! I know what you want to say; why do I dwell upon trifles such as bonnets, when heavy calamities are on the house?" "Suppose you walk about the gallery, my dear?" suggested Mrs. Freeman. "I see no chance of the rain's leaving off." "No, I'll go back and take my things off, and play with pussy. Poor pussy wanted a walk in the grounds as much as I did. Oh,"—with a shriek—"it's gone!" For the kitten, allured, perhaps, by the attractions of a promenade in the grounds, had leaped from the arms of Mrs. Chandos on to a shrub below. I saw it from my window. The shriek brought out Mr. Chandos from the house; he looked up. "My kitten, Harry," she said. "It has flown away from me. Get it, will you? But I am sorry to give you the trouble." Mr. Chandos took the kitten from the bush and once more looked up; at my window as well as at theirs. "Who will come for it? Will you, Miss Hereford?—and oblige my—oblige Mrs. Chandos."