Lettice tried to laugh, and nearly burst into tears. "It doesn't matter! I'm only—it's only—thinking about—" "Don't think just yet. We'll talk over plans presently." Lettice was fain to submit, and Nan burst in upon them with sensational details of what was going on across the street. The wrecked house could just be seen from their windows; and Nan had also been hovering about near at hand. "What's going to be done with Lettice?" she blurted out. Nan received a "hushing" until after tea, and then she was banished from the room. "I suppose we must consider plans now," Prue remarked, taking a seat by Lettice. "You see we are rather cramped here. There is one bedroom for my father and mother, and another for Nan and me. Wallace will have to get a bed somewhere else." "You can't possibly keep me, Prue." "I don't know about the 'possibly.' If it were needful, we could. But another idea has come to us. We happen to know that a spare bedroom is to be had at your brother's lodgings. Nan went round to ask, and the woman said it could be ready in half-an-hour. Now I do not see why you should not stay there for at least three or four days, or perhaps a week; and by that time, I hope we shall have something arranged, so that you can come to us. My mother thinks the same." "If Felix would like it—" "It would be so good for him, and surely he would be pleased. Don't at all events settle hastily against the plan. We are not attempting to send word to your brother. Far best to let him come home and find you there. A short telegram could not make clear what has happened." "I don't know what to think. If I could be sure that he would not mind—" "I think he would not. He has seemed to look forward so much to seeing you again. What if this were the right step for you to take, Lettice?—a means for getting back into your old place with him? You two have been apart so long. And really this afternoon you have almost no choice. We literally have not room for you here. Of course I could put you to sleep with Nan, and go somewhere else myself, only—" "O no, indeed! I wouldn't let you do it." "But—" in an undertone—"I don't quite like to be away from my mother to-night, after all this. And for you to go to your brother seems such a simple and natural plan. Don't you think so?" "Yes; I'll go, Prue. I don't think he will be vexed." "He ought to be delighted." "Yes. I dare say—" "You are unnerved by all you have gone through lately, poor child." "I've grown so used to nobody wanting me—" with trembling lips. "It will not be so here, Lettice." She put her arm round the girl, and held her affectionately. Mrs. Valentine had moved away, and was looking out of the window. "Shall I go now?"