"Oh no. I will trot round to my rooms. As a matter of fact, I was just going. Will you call for me, Camilla? The children are just asleep. They tried to keep awake till you came, but they were too tired...." Camilla threw off her furs and cloak in her room, and then stole upstairs softly till she reached the nursery. All was still. The two small bodies in the two small cots never stirred as she approached. Mrs. Lancing bent over each child and lightly laid a hand as in benediction on each little head. Then she paused a moment before Betty's small altar. The child had arranged it carefully before going to bed, there were white flowers in the tiny brass vases, and the red light burning before the statue of the Virgin was the only light in the room. Camilla shut her eyes. She never remembered any prayers; but Betty had just knelt there, and the child's prayers had hallowed the place; they seemed to carry the mother's soul with them--just a little way. As the nurse came into the room, Mrs. Lancing turned and, with her finger on her lip, went noiselessly from the room. She dressed for dinner in a happy mood. Haverford's cheque was locked up in her dressing case. She had not settled yet what sum she would inscribe on it. Certainly a small sum would be useless. So she mused as she ordered her maid to bring her the flowers Sir Samuel had sent, and she chose a few to wear as a breast-knot. "What is a thousand to him, or, for the matter of that, two?" she queried. "And even two will not go very far. Well, that is for to-morrow." She pinned the flowers in her bodice and smiled at her reflection. It was delightful not to spend a dull evening at home, and really she was just in the mood for a good dinner! CHAPTER IV Though he had had short notice, Haverford managed to get together a few interesting men for dinner the following evening. The greater part of the large house was not open, but enough was seen to impress and delight Mrs. Brenton. She admired everything. "I am full of envy," she said to him. "So am I," said Camilla. "I want everything I see here, your servants especially. How _do_ you bachelor people always manage to get such good servants? That man of yours, Harper, is a perfect treasure. He is a sort of Monte Cristo--nothing seems difficult or impossible to him. I believe if I were to call him now and say to him, 'Harper, will you please give me the Earth?' he would answer in that quiet way of his, 'I have just put it in your carriage, madam.'" She was all in white to-night, and looked languid and pensive. Rupert Haverford asked her once if she were tired; she nodded her head. "Just a little; but that is my own fault. I have been skating at Prince's all the afternoon," she explained. "I wondered if you would come there by any chance. You must promise to go with me one day. It is really rather fun, and it gives one some exercise." She was sitting in the place of honour. Mrs. Brenton and she were the only ladies.