Little did I know, however, of the changes that were ahead. Hitherto my step-mother had been all that was sweetly kind and lovingly indulgent; no doubt she was still kind, and in her heart of hearts still indulgent; but when we returned home after our pleasant few days at Hedgerow House her manner altered. She took the reins of government with a new sort of decision; she ordered changes in the household management without consulting me about them; she got in even more servants, and added to the luxuries of the house. She invited friends to call, and went herself to pay visits. She ordered a neat brougham, which came for her every day, and in which she asked me to accompany her to visit friends and relatives of her own. I refused in my own blunt fashion. "I am sorry, step-mother," I said; "I am particularly busy this afternoon, and I am going to tea with the Swans." "Is that an old engagement, Rachel?" she inquired. "Yes," I said; but I blushed a little as I spoke, for in truth that morning I had all but refused Rita Swan's urgent entreaty to go and have tea with them. Now I seized upon the whole idea as an excuse. Mrs Grant stood silent for a minute. How handsome and bright and energetic she looked! She was becomingly dressed, and the carriage with its nice horse and well-appointed coachman was waiting at the door. She said after a minute's pause, "Very well, Dumps, you needn't come to-day; but please understand that I shall want you to go out with me to-morrow morning, and again in the afternoon. Don't make any engagement for to-morrow." Before I had time to reply she had swept down the hall, the door was flung open for her by the neat parlour-maid, she stepped into her carriage, and was borne away. Was this indeed the same desolate house where I had lived ever since my mother died? I had a somewhat dull tea with the Swans; I was thinking all the time of my step-mother. They twitted me one moment on my melancholy, and the next they began to praise me. I was not a particularly shrewd girl, but somehow after a time I began to suspect that the news of my step-mother's wealth had got to their ears. If that was so, it would account for their complete change of front. Doubtless my step-mother was right when she decided to take me from a school where I might have companions of the Swan sort. The next day I came downstairs determined, if possible, to have my own way and not to go out with Mrs Grant. She was at breakfast when I entered. "You are a little late, Rachel," she said. "The hour for breakfast is half-past eight." "But--but--" I began. "You needn't excuse yourself, dear. Sit down. To-morrow morning I shall expect you to be in time." She spoke very sweetly, poured out a cup of delicious coffee for me, and asked whether I would prefer ham or eggs to eat with it. I looked out at the street. The worst January weather was on us; there was a drizzling sleet falling from the sky.