Why had she not, when Anice was returning, dropped the half-sheet on the floor, then picked it up as a discovery and sent it straight to Nigel by Anice? This suggestion came up; Fulvia's brow was dyed anew at the idea of such deception. Yet—she almost regretted that she had not thought of it in time! By the half-hour's end, when Daisy returned, it was as much as Fulvia could do to creep into bed. No wonder that the night following was one of feverish unrest. Daisy had little sleep, though not easily kept awake, for Fulvia rambled incessantly in a half-awake, half-unconscious style. Strange to say, she kept sealed lips throughout as to the crumpled half-sheet locked up in her dressing-case. Once there was a passionate cry, "O Nigel, forgive me!" And Daisy sat up in bed, staring with round eyes of astonishment. But no more followed, and Fulvia seemed to be asleep, so Daisy lay down again. "I'm glad I told Mr. Carden-Cox, though," commented Daisy. "Somebody ought to know how she goes on, most certainly!" CHAPTER XIII "WILL NEVER MARRY HER!" "He jests at scars that never felt a wound."—SHAKESPEARE. "ETHEL, just look at that blind. It hangs all crookedly." "Yes, mother." "Now you have pulled it too much the other way. You do things in such a hurry." Ethel gave a slow pull this time, cheerily, though her mother's tone was depressing. Mrs. Elvey could not be called ill-tempered, but she was given to complaining moods, and such moods were trying to those about her. "Something must be wrong with the oil we are using now. The lamp has a most disagreeable smell." "Father noticed it yesterday evening. I'll go to the shop and speak about it to-morrow." "Yes, do; it is enough to make one positively ill." "Shall I take away the lamp and light candles?" "Oh no, that would be extravagant; I must just bear it. What has become of everybody this evening? The house seems so dull." "Father is writing in the study, and the boys are at their prep. still. Lance wants me to help him presently." "Then, pray, go; don't mind about me. Lance must not lose his place in his classes on any account. Do go at once, Ethel." Mrs. Elvey spoke in an injured tone, as if it were unkind of Ethel to leave her; but this was so usual a state of things that Ethel hardly noticed the manner. She folded up her work, and sped into the hall just as the postman dropped a letter into the box. "For me," she said, taking it out. "From Mr. Carden-Cox. About the magic-lantern, of course. I am glad he has answered quickly. Well, Lance," as the boy ran past, "do you want me?" "Not for five minutes," Lance answered. The boys did their "prep." in the little old schoolroom. Ethel turned into the dining-room to read her letter, standing under the gas, which had been left alight. The remains of the evening meal, a dinner-tea, were on the table still. Post arrived at the Rectory somewhat later than at the Grange, Church Square coming at the end of a certain "beat."