"I made her see a specialist in Paris, and he reported very indifferently about her. Of course she had no business to rush across the other day. If she will do these sort of stupid things, she is bound to suffer for it. She is a good bit annoyed about Miss Graniger, so I think if you don't mind it would be as well not to worry her more than you can help." To this letter Rupert made no direct reply, but he scribbled a few words to his mother, saying that he would call on her the following day if she cared to see him. "That will give her the opportunity of shirking me if she does not want me," he said to himself, with a faint smile. He was obliged to give an hour or two to his secretary, and to make appointments that would occupy him nearly the whole of the next day. But he purposely kept the afternoon free; he wanted to see Camilla. His cab had just pulled up at Mrs. Lancing's door when it was opened, and the two children passed out, with Caroline Graniger in attendance. No sooner did they see Rupert Haverford than Betty and Baby ran to him and flung themselves upon him. They made quite a commotion in the streets. Miss Graniger stood in the background, smiling faintly, yet conscious of a little awkwardness. Mr. Haverford was so occupied with the children that he could not for the moment address a single word to her. When his right hand was free, however, he lifted his hat and gave her a smile; then he stretched out his hand, and Caroline put hers into it. "Do you wish to see Mrs. Lancing?" she asked. "She is at home, but not very well." "But she will see you," Betty chimed in. "Do go and see her. Poor mummy! she is _so_ white, and her eyes look red, just like mine do when I have been crying." "Perhaps I had better not go in," Mr. Haverford said. But the children were urging him towards the door. Betty gave him all sorts of injunctions. "Don't make too much noise," she said. "You mustn't jump about, or scream on the stairs. Baby _always_ screams when mummy's got a bad head." Caroline had to come to the rescue here; behind a good firm barrier Baby felt that she might hurl recrimination on her sister with impunity. It took some time to pacify her. "I really don't think I ought to go in," Haverford repeated earnestly. But Caroline had unlocked the door with a latchkey. "I think Mrs. Lancing would like to see you," she said. She spoke stiffly; she did not feel quite at her ease with him. "Shall I go up and tell her you are here?" "Yes; go," said Betty. "Mr. Haverford will take care of us; he's a very us-a-ful man. We'll play that he's a new nurse. Come on, Babsy!" As she passed up the stairs Caroline said to herself-- "He did not say anything disagreeable, and he did not look very cross. I am rather glad." Mrs. Lancing was sitting in front of the fire leaning back in a chair; a book lay open upon her knees. It was the day following the midnight raid on the nursery.