Mademoiselle had sat down in her place before the tea-tray, and was leaning her cheek upon her hand. She was certainly looking unusually pale. "Enough to make me!" she said, in answer to Minny. "If there were to be this disturbance often in the house, I would not stop in it for double my _appointements_. It has given me one of those _vilaine_ headaches, and I think I shall go to bed. You will not be afraid to stay up alone, mesdemoiselles?" "There is nothing to be afraid of now," promptly answered Rosa, who had far rather be without her governess's company than with it. "Don't sit up for us, mademoiselle." "Then I will go at once," said mademoiselle. And she wished them good night, and retired to her chamber. PART THE THIRD. CHAPTER I. ANNA LYNN'S DILEMMA. It was a lovely evening. One of those warm, still evenings that May sometimes brings us, when gnats hum in the air, and the trees are at rest. The day had been intensely hot: the evening was little less so, and Anna Lynn leaned over the gate of their garden, striving to catch what of freshness there might be in the coming night. The garish day was fading into moonlight; the distant Malvern hills grew fainter and fainter on the view; the little lambs in the field--growing into great lambs now, some of them--had long lain down to rest; and the Thursday evening bells came chiming pleasantly on the ear from Helstonleigh. "How late he is to-night!" murmured Anna. "If he does not come soon, I shall not be able to stay out." Even as the words passed her lips, a faint movement might be distinguished in the obscurity of the night, telling of the advent of Herbert Dare. Anna looked round to see that the windows were clear from prying eyes, and went forth to meet him. He had halted at the usual place, under cover of the hedge. The hedge of sweetbriar, skirting that side garden into which Signora Varsini had made good her _entrée_, in the gratification of her curiosity. A shaded walk and a quiet one: very little fear there, of overlookers. "Herbert, thee art late!" cried Anna. "A good thing I was able to come at all," responded Herbert, taking Anna's arm within his own. "I thought at one time I must have remained at home, to chastise my brother Anthony." "Chastise thy brother Anthony!" repeated Anna in astonishment. Herbert, for the first time, told her of the unpleasantness that existed between his brother and himself. He did not mention the precise cause; but simply said Anthony had behaved ill to him, and drawn down upon him trouble and vexation. Anna was all sympathy. Had Herbert told her the offence had lain on his side, not on Anthony's, her entire sympathy had still been his. She deemed Herbert everything that was good and great and worthy. Anthony--what little she knew of him--she did not like. "Herbert, maybe he will be striking thee in secret, when thee art unprepared."