Having consented to Una's going, Mrs. Davenant lost no time in making the few necessary preparations. She selected a plain but rich evening dress, set her own maid to make the required alterations, selected from her own store a sort of old Honiton, and gave orders that some white flowers should be bought at Covent Garden the next morning. "White flowers, my dear," she said, nervously. "Because I--I am not sure that Stephen would not consider that your being in the house with me you are not in mourning. But, then, you are no relation, my dear." "I wish I were," said Una, kissing her. CHAPTER XX. At nine o'clock the next evening the quiet-looking green brougham came round to the door, and took them rapidly to Park Lane. Una had already grown almost weary of staring out of the carriage window, but her wonder and interest revived as she saw in the dusky twilight the green trees and flowers in the most beautiful park in the world, and amazed at the magnificent buildings past which they rolled. Presently the brougham drew up at a corner house facing the park; an awning was suspended from the gateway to the pavement, and three footmen in splendid liveries, which she recognized as those she had seen worn by the servants attending Lady Bell's carriage, were standing to receive the guests; one of them opened the brougham door and escorted them into the hall, which seemed to Una, with its flowers and mirrors, its rich hangings and statues, a fairy palace, and was about to usher them into the drawing-room, when, upon hearing Mrs. Davenant's name, he bowed, and took them into a small room at the side, which was Lady Bell's boudoir. "I will tell her ladyship," he said. Una had scarcely time to take in the exquisite beauty of the room, with its antique furniture and costly knicknacks, when the door opened and Lady Bell entered. She was exquisitely dressed; diamonds--the diamonds Una had seen at the jeweler's--glittering in her hair and on her neck and on her arms, and seemed to Una like some vision which at a breath would vanish and leave the room to its subdued twilight again. With outstretched hands she came toward them, with her eyes dancing and her cheeks flushed. "You have kept your word and brought my wild bird! I knew you would come," and she took a hand of each, but suddenly reached up and kissed Una. "Yes, I felt that you would come, but it is good of you all the same, and to show you that I am grateful, I will let you go at once, this minute, dear Mrs. Davenant!" Mrs. Davenant looked relieved. "Thank you! thank you, Lady Bell!" she said. "You--you----" "Will take care of your bird? Yes, that I will. You may trust her to me; not a feather shall be ruffled." Mrs. Davenant murmured something about the time she would come for her, and then with a timid look from one to the other was gone.