"DEAR MISS ETHERIDGE:--Will you redeem the promise you made me this afternoon and come and see me? Will you ask Mr. Etheridge to bring you to dine with them to-morrow at eight o'clock? I say 'them' because I dine always alone; but perhaps you will not mind coming to me after dinner for a little while. Do not let Mr. Etheridge refuse as he generally does, but tell him to bring you for my sake." "Yours very truly, "LILIAN WYNDWARD." Stella read it and re-read it as if she could not believe her senses. Lady Lilian's invitation had sounded so vague that she had scarcely remembered it, and now here was a direct invitation to Wyndham Hall, and to dinner. "Well, miss?" said Mrs. Penfold. Stella started. "I will give you the answer directly," she said. Then she went across to her uncle and stood beside him, the letter in her hand. He was lost in thought, and quite unsuspicious of the thunder-clap preparing for him. "Uncle, I have just got a letter." "Eh? Where from, Stella?" "From Lady Lilian." He looked up quickly. "She has asked me to dinner to-morrow." "No!" he said. She put the letter in his hand. "Read it, will you, my dear?" he said. And she read it, conscious that her voice trembled. "Well?" he said. "Well?" she repeated, with a smile. He put his hand to his brow. "To dinner--to-morrow? Oh, dear me! Well, well! You would like to go?" and he looked up at her. "Of course you would like to go." She looked down, her face was delicately flushed--her eyes shone. "Of course," he said. "Well, say 'Yes.' It is very kind. You see, Stella, your wish is gratified almost as soon as you utter it. You will see your paragon--Lady Lenore." She started, and her face went pale. "I have changed my mind," she said, in a low voice. "I find I don't want to see her so badly as I thought. I think I don't care to go, uncle." He stared at her. She was still an enigma to him. "Nonsense, child! Not care to see Wyndward Hall! Nonsense! Besides, it's Lady Lilian; we must go, Stella." She still stood with the letter in her hand. "But--but, uncle--I have nothing to wear." "Nothing to wear!" And he looked at her up and down. "Nothing fit for Wyndward Hall," she said. "Uncle, I don't think I care to go." He laughed gently. "You will find something to wear between now and half-past seven to-morrow," he said, "or my faith in Mrs. Penfold's resources will be shaken. Accept, my dear." She went slowly to the table and wrote two lines--two lines only. "DEAR LADY LILIAN.--We shall be very glad indeed to come and see you to-morrow. Yours very truly," "STELLA ETHERIDGE." Then she rang the bell and gave the note to Mrs. Penfold. "I am going to Wyndward Hall to-morrow," she said, with a smile, "and I have got nothing to wear, Mrs. Penfold!" and she laughed. Mrs. Penfold threw up her hands after the manner of her kind.