“Miss Van Tuyn, my lady.” “Do forgive me, Adela!” said Miss Van Tuyn, coming in with her usual graceful self-possession and looking, Lady Sellingworth thought in that first moment, quite untroubled. “This is a most unorthodox hour. But I knew you were often alone in the evening, and I thought perhaps you wouldn’t mind seeing me for a few minutes.” She took Lady Sellingworth’s hand and started. For the hand was cold. Then she looked round and saw that the footman had left the room. The big door was shut. They were alone together. “Of course you know why I’ve come, Adela,” she said. “I’ve had your letter.” As she spoke she drew it out of the muff she was carrying. “I was obliged to write it,” said Lady Sellingworth. “It was my duty to write it.” “Yes?” “But I don’t want to discuss it.” They were both still standing. Now Miss Van Tuyn said; “Do you mind if I sit down?” “No; do sit.” “And may I take off my coat?” Lady Sellingworth was obliged to say: “Yes, do.” Very composedly and rather slowly Miss Van Tuyn took off her fur coat, laid aside her muff, and sat down near the fire. “I’m very sorry, Adela, but really, we must discuss this letter,” she said. “I don’t understand it.” “Surely it is explicit enough.” “Yes. It is too explicit not to be discussed between us.” “Beryl, I don’t want to discuss it. I can’t discuss it.” “Why not?” “Because it is too painful--a horrible subject. You must take my word for it that I have written you the plain truth.” “Please don’t think I doubt your word, Adela.” “No, of course not. And that being so let the matter end there. It must end there.” “But--where? I don’t quite understand really.” “I felt obliged to send you a warning, a very serious warning. I greatly disliked, I hated doing it. But I couldn’t do otherwise. You are young--a girl. I am an--I am almost an old woman. We have been friends. I saw you in danger. What could I do but tell you of it? I knew of course you were quite innocent in the matter. I am putting no blame whatever on you. You will do me that justice.” “Oh, yes.” “So there is nothing more to discuss. I have done what I was bound to do, and I know you will heed my warning.” She looked at the letter in Beryl’s hand, and remembered her feeling of danger when she wrote it. “And now please burn that letter, Beryl. Throw it into the fire.” As she spoke she pointed to the fire on the hearth. But Miss Van Tuyn kept the letter in her hand. “Please wait a minute, Adela!” she said. And a mutinous look came into her face. “You don’t quite understand how things are. It’s all very well to think you can make me give up my friend--any friend of mine--at a moment’s notice and at a word from you. But I don’t see things quite in the same light.” “That--that man isn’t your friend. Don’t say that.” “But I do say it,” said the girl, with a now intense obstinacy. “You met him in Mr. Garstin’s studio, didn’t you?” “Perhaps I did. There is nothing against him in that.”