Mr. Chandos looked anything but afraid: he stood very calm, his head raised. Emily began taking off her things, throwing a bonnet on one chair, gloves on another, a shawl on the floor. I went forward to assist her. "Don't touch anything of mine," she haughtily interrupted, putting herself before the shawl with a slight stamp. "Harry, how long has mamma kept her room?" "Ever since you left," replied Mr. Chandos. "Oh. And you and Anne Hereford have had the sole benefit of each other's company!" "And a very pleasant benefit, too," boldly retorted Mr. Chandos. But my cheeks were in a flame, and they both saw it. "You wrote me word that you wished to leave," she said, turning to me. "You are no longer in my service, and are at liberty to do so. When can you be ready?" "My preparations will not take me long," was my reply. Little cause was there to ask what had been the purport of her anonymous letter. Who could have written it? Who could be concerning themselves about me and Mr. Chandos? Was it Mrs. Penn? "I should like some tea," she said, as she poured out a glass of wine and drank it. "Ring the bell and order it in, Anne Hereford. While they bring it I will run up to mamma's rooms, Harry. Wont she pull a long face when she hears that I decamped without the cognizance of le mari et la vieille mère!" "Emily," said Mr. Chandos, gravely, "you cannot go into your mamma's rooms at present." "But I will go." "My dear, you must not; at least until I have spoken to you. There are urgent reasons against it." "What are the reasons?" "I will tell you later. You had better have some tea first. Shall I ring for Hill to show you a chamber?" "I will be shown to a chamber when I have been in to mamma," she defiantly responded. "Take yourself out of the way, Harry." For Mr. Chandos was standing between her and the door. "Emily, did I ever advise you but for your good—your comfort? Pray attend to me." "For my good, no doubt," she said, with a gay laugh. "I don't know about my comfort. Harry, we shall come to a battle royal, if you don't move from that door. I am quite determined to go into the west wing, and I will not be stopped. Goodness me! you are trying to control me as though I were a child." Mr. Chandos opened the door and followed her out. In the hall they stood for a moment talking together in a whisper, and I heard a cry of pain and dismay escape her lips. CHAPTER XXVII. GEORGE HENEAGE. I sat down with my great weight of happiness. Oh, the change that had passed over me! He was not married; he was true and honourable, and he loved me! Hickens came in to remove the wine, and I chattered to him like a merry schoolgirl. Everything else went out of my head, even the letter I held, still unopened; and when I should have thought of it I cannot say, but that some time later I heard the voice of Mrs. Penn in the hall, speaking in covert tones.