'Yes,' she said, 'wait a bit. Writing makes things seem so much worse. Telling is different. Maybe I'll be going over to Wharton some day, and I could tell your mother. You'll feel all right again soon, and it's to be hoped you'll have no more bad luck. I can't say but what I was very put out myself about that basin--real "Severs" it was. I suppose, to go to the roots of things, it was my fault for having left it about. I said so to my lady.' 'Oh dear, Cousin Ellen, I'm sure no one could ever think _you_ to blame,' said Ruth. 'Indeed, indeed, I will try to be careful.' Her tone was rather melancholy still. Mossop looked at her with a little smile. 'I'm much mistaken if you won't be hearing something in a day or two that'll cheer you up. But I mustn't tell you about it.' And Ruth could not persuade her to say more. [Illustration] CHAPTER III.--THE OLD CABINET IN THE PASSAGE. The very day that Ruth was crying about the broken basin, a conversation which concerned her, though she little knew it, was going on a good many miles away. In a pretty room in a large country-house--a much larger and 'grander' house than the Towers, a lady, sweet and young, was lying on a sofa. In front of her stood a little girl--a pretty little creature of eight or nine. She had a bright expression usually, but just now she seemed uncomfortable and ill at ease. She fidgeted from one foot to the other, and frowned as she looked down, and her face was flushed. 'Tell me, Flossie,' said the lady. 'You're quite old enough to explain. Why don't you want to go to grandmamma's? I should feel so happy about you with her while I am away, and then papa and I will come to fetch you when I am quite strong again.' 'Mayn't I go with you, mamma?' said the child. Mrs. Vyner shook her head. 'No, dear, it is impossible. You must either go to grandmamma's or stay here with Miss Kelly. And if you don't go to the Towers, I must tell grandmamma that you don't want to go.' 'No, no,' said Flossie, 'don't do that, mamma; I'll go, but please don't be long away. And please tell grandmamma that I'm too little to be always in her room. Mayn't I have a nursery, like at home?' 'I thought you loved being a great deal with grandmamma,' said Mrs. Vyner in a disappointed tone. 'I don't understand you, Flossie. However, you are to have a sort of nursery, and there is a very nice young servant there who is to take you out and amuse you. For I should be sorry to disappoint Miss Kelly of her holiday when she has had none for so long.' Florentia's face brightened a little. 'I'll go into the boudoir as seldom as I can, and _never_ along the passage to the book-room,' she murmured to herself, but her mother did not catch the words.