That, at any rate, was work upon which she might commence on her return to London, and as she clicked the little wicket-gate, a side-entrance to the garden, behind her, she was almost happy again. The dusk was deepening into darkness, the moon had not yet risen above the hill. She had entered the garden on the further side of the house and passed through a long laurel path, her feet silenced by the snow. Jacob had stayed, some way behind. She could see the white lawn and beyond it the lighted house; she was about to step out of the dark shadow of the laurels when she found, just in front of her, almost touching her, hidden by the black depth of the trees, two figures. She was upon them with a startled cry. A man had his arms about a woman; bending back a little he had pulled her forward against him and was kissing her so fiercely that her hands were buried deep in his coat to steady herself. Rachel knew them instantly; they were her husband and Nita Raseley-- She stepped past them on to the lawn and at that instant they were conscious of her-- Then she walked swiftly into the house. II She went up to her bedroom. No thought came to her, her mind was blank, but she noticed little things, put some of the silver things on her dressing-table in order, pulled her blind a little lower, moved to the fire and pushed the logs into a blaze. She sat there for a long, long time. When the dressing-bell echoed through the rooms she was still sitting there, thinking nothing-- Her maid came to her; she told her the dress that she would wear and after a while sat staring into her mirror whilst her hair was brushed. Lucy said, "The snow's begun again, my lady. Coming down fast----" Then some absence of light in her mistress's eyes frightened her and she said no more. Someone knocked on the door: a note for her ladyship. Rachel read it: "It was all a horrible, _horrible_ mistake. Darling Rachel, you _know_ it was only fun--just nothing at all. Shall I come and explain? If you'd rather not see me just now say so and I shall _quite_ understand. I've been so upset that I think I won't come down to dinner, if it isn't _too_ much bother having just a little sent up to me. It was all _such_ a silly mistake, as you'll see when we've explained. Your loving NITA." When she came to "we" Rachel coloured a little. Then she said, "Lucy, bring me the local railway-guide. In my writing-room." Lucy brought it to her. Then she wrote: "DEAR NITA, No explanations necessary. There is a good train up to town from Hawes at 9.30 to-morrow morning. Yours, RACHEL SEDDON." "I want this taken to Miss Raseley, Lucy--now. She's not very well, so ask Haddon to see that dinner is sent up to her room, please." Then she finished dressing and went down to Roddy. III