"Poor Kate Raymore! Well, there's trouble everywhere, isn't there, Anna?" She shivered and drew yet a little nearer the fire. "How are things at home with you?" "Just as usual; nothing ever happens with us." "It might be much worse than that." "I suppose it might. It's only just rather dull; and I suppose I shall have to endure it for a long while. You see, I'm not very likely to get married, Mrs. Fanshaw. No men ever come to our house--they can't stand it. Besides I'm not pretty." "Oh, come and meet men here; and never mind not being pretty; I could dress you to look quite smart. That's it! You should go in for smartness, not prettiness. I really believe it pays better nowadays. Get Janet--get your mother to give you an allowance, and we'll put our heads together over it." "That's awfully kind of you, Mrs. Fanshaw." "Oh, I like dressing people; and I do think girls ought to have their chances. But in those things she makes you wear--oh, my dear Anna!" "Yes, I know. I'll ask her. And----" Anna hesitated, then rose, and came over to Christine. Suddenly she kissed her. "It's nothing, my dear," said Christine, amused but annoyed; she was very ready to help Anna, but did not care in the least for being kissed by her. Anna sat down again, and there ensued a long pause. "And as for not marrying," Christine resumed, "it's six of one and half a dozen of the other, I think. Oh, I should have hated to be an old maid; but still one would have avoided so much worry. Look at these poor Raymores! They've always got on so well too, up to now!" She laid down her screen and pulled up her dress, to let the warmth get to her ankles. Anna looked at her dainty face lit up by the glow. "I wish I was like you, Mrs. Fanshaw!" Christine did not refuse the compliment; she only denied the value of the possession which won it for her. "Much good it's done me, my dear!" she sighed. "But people who've not got looks never will believe how little good they are. Oh, I didn't mean to be rude, Anna! I believe in you, you know. I can do something with you. Only----" She stopped, frowning a little and looking vaguely unhappy. "Well," she resumed, "if it turns out that I can't take you under my wing, we must get hold of Sibylla. She's always ready to do things for people--and they've got lots of money, anyhow." Anna's curiosity was turned in the direction of Sibylla. "What was the truth about Mrs. Imason, Mrs. Fanshaw?" "I made sure you'd know that too!" smiled Christine. "And if you don't, I suppose I oughtn't to tell you." "I know she--she had an accident." "Oh, well, everybody knows. Yes, she had, and they thought it was worse than it was. The country doctor down at Milldean made a mistake--took too serious a view, you know. And--and there was a lot of bother. But the London man said it would be all right, and so it turned out. The baby came all right, and it's a splendid boy." "It all ended all right, then?" Christine looked a little doubtful.