Harriet could not understand it at all, and after having watched two fashionably attired ladies accompanied by a gentleman, ascend the staircase, to Madame Gobelli’s room, one afternoon, she ventured to sound Miss Wynward on the subject. “Who were the ladies who went upstairs just now?” she asked. “Friends of the Baroness, Miss Brandt!” was the curt reply. “But why do they not come down to the drawing-room then? What does Madame Gobelli do with them in that little room upstairs? I was passing one day just after someone had entered, and I heard the key turned in the lock. What is all the secrecy about?” “There is no secrecy on my part, Miss Brandt. You know the position I hold here. When I have shewn the visitors upstairs, according to my Lady’s directions, my duty is done!” “But you must know why they come to see her!” “I know nothing. If you are curious on the subject, you must ask the Baroness.” But Harriet did not like to do that. The Baroness had become less affectionate to her of late--her fancy was already on the wane--she no longer called the attention of strangers to her young friend as the “daughter of the house”--and Harriet felt the change, though she could scarcely have defined where it exactly lay. She had begun to feel less at home in her hostess’s presence, and her high spirit chafed at the alteration in her manner. She realised, as many had done before her, that she had out-stayed her welcome. But her curiosity respecting the people who visited Madame Gobelli upstairs was none the less. She confided it to Bobby--poor Bobby who grew whiter and more languid ever day--but her playful threat to invade the sacred precincts and find out what the Baroness and her friends were engaged upon, was received by the youth with horror. He trembled as he begged her not to think of such a thing. “Hally, you mustn’t, indeed you mustn’t! You don’t know--you have no idea--what might not happen to you, if you offended Mamma by breaking in upon her privacy. O! don’t, pray don’t! She can be so terrible at times--I do not know what she might not do or say!” “My dear Bobby, I was only in fun! I have not the least idea of doing anything so rude. Only, if you think that I am frightened of your Mamma or any other woman, you are very much mistaken. It’s all nonsense! No one person can harm another in this world!” “O! yes, they can--if they have _help_,” replied the boy, shaking his head. “Help! what help? The help of Mr. Milliken, I suppose! I would rather fight him than the Baroness any day--but I fear neither of them.” “O! Hally, you are wrong,” said the lad, “you must be careful, indeed you must--for my sake!” “Why! you silly Bobby, you are actually trembling! However, I promise you I will do nothing rash! And I shall not be here much longer now! Your Mamma is getting tired of me, I can see that plainly enough! She has hardly spoken a word to me for the last two days. I am going to ask Mr. Pennell, to advise me where to find another home!”