Mrs. Holman caught her husband's hand. "What do it mean, John?" she asked, "what do it mean?" "We had best go to the house and find out," was Holman's response. "Yes, we had best," replied Mrs. Holman; "but, John, I take it that it means the worst. The little lamb was too good for this earth. I always said it, John, always." "Come to the house and let's find out," said Holman again. He took his old wife's hand, and the strange-looking pair walked down the avenue. Presently they found themselves standing outside the pretty old-fashioned porch of lovely Silverbel. They did not know as they walked that they were in full view of the windows of the Chamber of Peace, and that eager blue eyes were watching them, eager eyes which filled with love and longing when they gazed at them. "Miss Winstead!" cried little Sibyl. "What is it, dear?" asked the governess. Sibyl had been silent for nearly a quarter of an hour, and Miss Winstead, tired with the bazaar and many other things, had been falling into a doze. The sudden excitement in Sibyl's voice now arrested her attention. "Oh, Miss Winstead, they have come." "Who have come, dear?" "The Holmans, the darlings! I saw them walking down the avenue. Oh, I should so like to see them. Will you go down and bring them up? Please do." "But the doctor said you were to be quiet, and not excite yourself." "What does it matter whether I incite myself or not? Please, please let me see the Holmans." "Yes, dear," replied Miss Winstead. She left the room and went downstairs. As she entered the central hall she suddenly found herself listening to an animated conversation. "Now, my good people," said Mrs. Ogilvie's voice, raised high and clear, "you will be kind enough to return to town immediately. The child is ill, but we hope soon to have her better. See her, did you say, my good woman? Certainly not. I shall be pleased to offer you refreshment if you will go round to the housekeeper's entrance, but you must take the next train to town, you cannot see the child." "If you please, Mrs. Ogilvie," here interrupted Miss Winstead, coming forward. "Sibyl noticed Mr. and Mrs. Holman as they walked down the avenue, and is very much pleased and delighted at their coming to see her, and wants to know if they may come up at once and have a talk with her?" "Dear me!" cried Mrs. Ogilvie; "I really must give the child another bedroom, this sort of thing is so bad for her. It is small wonder the darling does not get back her health--the dreadful way in which she is over-excited and injudiciously treated. Really, my good folks, I wish you would go back to town and not make mischief." "But if the little lady wishes?" began Mrs. Holman, in a timid voice, tears trembling on her eyelids.