"I am afraid not. The last train leaves at three o'clock, and that does not give enough time for all that has to be done. I was wondering whether my aunt--whether you would consent to sleep at her house to- night." "Suttenly not! Why should I? It won't be the first time by a good many that I've stayed a night by myself in a hotel, and there's no reason why I should move. I'll have my meals up in this room, if it will ease you any, but I won't leave this place till to-morrow morning. Then I'll go back," she laughed feebly, "to The Nook, and humble pie!" "You need not tell your aunt what has happened, if you don't choose to do so!" "Oh, yes; I'll own up! Aunt Soph will be pleased to feel she was right. Maybe she'll like me better when I'm down on my luck. ... What must I set about first?" "I shall interview the hotel manager, and tell him the whole story-- that's due to him, you know, or there might be a repetition of the offence. Then there's the jeweller--he must be warned in the same way, and the necklace returned. I presume you don't want to keep it." Cornelia shuddered. "Oh, no. I could never wear it. But when Poppar comes over I'll make him buy me something else instead. Mr Marchant shan't lose! I guess I'd better drive there straight away, and then to the bank. I'll have to arrange for a pretty big draft. ... You never know how things are going to pan out in this world, do you? I thought I was going to spend this afternoon on the river, gliding about so sweet and peaceful!" Guest flushed, hesitated, and--plunged! "Why shouldn't we go all the same? We can finish our business and still have time. If you will allow me, I'll take great care of you and bring you home before it's dark. It would be too dreary sitting up here by yourself, all the evening." Cornelia sprang to her feet, clapping her hands with delight. "How lovely! How lovely! You're just the nicest thing! It's sweet of you to think of it! Go right away now, and get through with your interview, and I'll join you in the lounge as soon as I've prinked, and gotten my face into order. I'll hang my head out of the window, and massage my nose. ... Let's go and be happy, and forget all our woes!" She ran to the door, waved her hand gaily over her shoulder, and disappeared from sight. CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. When Guest drove round to the hotel next morning to escort Cornelia to the station, she was surprised to see his own bag on the roof, and to hear that he intended to accompany her all the way to Norton. "I want to make sure that you are safely housed once more," he explained as they drove off. "I feel a certain responsibility for you, and I think perhaps your aunt would like to see me, and hear from a second person that everything is satisfactorily settled here."