'What do you want to hear about?' said Hazel demurely. 'I liked the reading very much,—all that I heard of it. And the people seemed to like you.' 'Did you think I would not find you out?' 'And you did not!' she said triumphantly. 'I should have found you out in another half hour. I saw you, and you bothered me very much, but the lights were in my eyes. Did you hope I would not see you, Hazel?' She laughed gaily. 'Of course I hoped that! How did I "bother" you, please?' 'Something I did not understand. Gyda, won't you take Miss Kennedy where she can wash her face?' Gyda led the way to her kitchen, a little detached building connected with the house by a covered way. It was warm and light with fire and full of savoury odours from the cookery going on. Here the young lady was supplied with a bowl of water and a napkin, and Hazel came back very much refreshed. It was now half-past twelve o'clock and more. Dr. Arthur was come, and there were preparations on foot for supper. Reo had come to, and was sent to Gyda's little kitchen to get some refreshment, while the others supped. 'Now,' said Rollo, as he gave Wych Hazel some porridge and filled her cup, 'you may begin and give an account of yourself.' 'Autocratic,' said Hazel. 'I am no longer a mill girl, Mr. Rollo.' 'You came into my dominions with my livery. There's no help for you now.' 'Well,'—said Hazel,—'the only drawback to the pleasure of my drive over from Chickaree, was the state of mind in which I had left Mrs. Bywank.' 'Well?' said Rollo, proceeding to take care of the doctor's cup. 'Go on. Arthur and I are very curious.' 'After that, I wanted a bun, and saw no invitation to strangers.' 'You were there, were you! Isn't it a good institution?' 'Very—for people who are not strangers. Reo and I devoured things with our eyes for some time. Then I— When the reading began, I was in my place.' 'I should say, you were in somebody else's place. Never mind! If it was not so late, I'd send down and get a bun for you.' 'What came in between the "Then" and the "When"?' said Dr. Arthur. 'If one may inquire. Mere blank space?' 'Not quite,' said Hazel laughing and colouring. 'Just private, scientific business. I was testing theories.' 'We are both interested in that, the doctor and I,' said Dane. 'Theories, and scientific business. Pray explain, Hazel.' 'I once heard a short lecture on magnetism,' said Miss Wych, all grave except the gleam in her eyes; 'and it occurred to me to put it to the proof. So I stood by the door and saw the people go in.' Dr. Arthur laughed, but asked no further questions. 'Your true lovers of science are always ready to venture a good deal in the pursuit of it,' observed Dane drily. Wych Hazel's lips curled with mischief. 'When I got in,' she said, 'before the reading, I heard a good deal about the reader. Most of it striking, and some of it new.'