Presently she rose, and, fetching her writing case, wrote two letters. It was strange to feel no uncertainty, to be no longer racked with doubt, to have no more vacillations. Her course now was plain; she felt no more hesitation than a mother feels when she hears her child is ill. Hours afterwards, when Diana came in, eager to recount the affairs of the day, Cecily was still in her room. The girl started as she opened the door, and her sister rose to meet her. “Diana,” Cecily began, “I’m going home to-morrow. If you like to stay I think the Armstrongs would look after you----” Diana sprang towards her as she staggered a little against the table. “I suppose you’ve had nothing to eat!” she exclaimed practically. She pushed her sister back into the chair, and rang the bell violently. “We’ll have dinner up here,” she announced, taking the lead with characteristic determination, “and then you can tell me all about it. If you go to-morrow, I shall go too. Auntie says that wretched Brown girl is making a dead set at Archie--she began directly he came home. I shall go and stop it.” CHAPTER XXIII Rose was a little startled, but, on the whole, scarcely surprised by Cecily’s telegram. It was like her to act impulsively, and Rose had never been in doubt as to the right note to strike, if she should ever wish to strike it. That she _did_ wish it, was only made clear to her by the sight of Robert’s unmistakable misery. “If he really wants her it will be all right, or at least right enough,” she had argued, and she had been justified. Cecily was coming back. She had meant to be at the flat to receive her, but a feverish attack developed by the baby kept her at home till after her cousin had been a day in town. When, early in the afternoon of the next day, she reached the flat, Diana came flying out to meet her. “Cis is shopping. She’ll be back in a minute,” she assured her, vigorously embracing her meanwhile. Rose looked at the girl with laughing approval. Diana would never be a beauty, but she had learned how to dress; her figure was excellent, and her alert, humorous face very attractive. “Is Robert home?” Mrs. Summers inquired, rather anxiously. Diana made a little grimace. “No,” she said. “He doesn’t know we’re here. Doesn’t deserve to, either,” she added. Diana was whole-hearted in her dislikes. Rose laughed. “And Cis?” she asked. “How is Cecily?” Diana’s face clouded a little. “Oh!--she’s well. But----” She paused abruptly. “Yes?” asked Rose, divining something of what was stirring in the girl’s mind. “Oh--nothing,” returned Diana, hastily. “I’ve seen Archie,” she added, with an abrupt change of subject. Mrs. Summers, who knew the faithful admirer, and Diana’s casual attitude, looked amused. “You needn’t laugh!” Diana exclaimed, with solemnity. “It’s awfully serious--_he_ is, I mean.” “And you?” inquired Rose, stifling her mirth.