'In the book-room?' she repeated. 'Yes,' said her grandmother decidedly, 'in the book-room. Be quick, dear.' Flossie went. But she was not quick, and when after some minutes she returned, she seemed rather out of breath. 'Why have you been so long? It doesn't take a minute to run down the passage,' said the old lady. Flossie grew red. 'I went the other way,' she said. 'I don't like the passage. I went down-stairs, and up the back-stairs.' Her grandmother looked at her keenly. 'What a strange idea!' she said. 'Do you think there is an ogre in the passage?' But Flossie did not laugh or even smile. And just then Ruth came to fetch her. Lady Melicent sighed when she was left alone. 'I wonder,' she thought, 'if I took Ruth into my confidence, if perhaps she might help to make Flossie tell. I can see the child will not be happy till she does, and I do not want to ask her. I should be so afraid of making her deny it. Ruth behaved so well about my beef-tea bowl, I am sure she has nothing underhand about her.' And the old lady looked quite anxious and depressed. Ruth and her little charge meanwhile were sauntering slowly up and down the garden. In spite of Flossie's saying that it amused her to 'play' in the garden, it did not look very like it. She seemed spiritless and dull, and Ruth too appeared to have lost her usual bright happy eagerness. Neither spoke for some time; at last Ruth half started, as it suddenly struck her that she was scarcely fulfilling her duty. 'Miss Flossie, dear,' she said, 'wouldn't you like a game? It's not warm to-day, and we're walking along so slowly. Shall I fetch your ball or your hoop? Or would you like to run races?' 'No, thank you; I'd rather just walk along,' said the child. Then after a moment's silence she went on. 'I don't like much being at the Tower House now. Do you like it, Ruth? Would you not rather be at your own home?' Ruth hesitated. 'Yes, for some things I would,' she said. 'But I was very pleased to come here.' '_Were_ you?' said Flossie, rather incredulously. 'You don't look very happy. I thought so the first day. I wrote to mother that you had a kind face, but not a happy one.' '_Did_ you, Miss Flossie?' exclaimed Ruth, rather taken aback. 'Well, at home I was called the merriest of everybody, and, and--I've been merry here sometimes.' 'But you're not now, Ruth,' said Flossie gravely. Then she peered up into the little maid's face with her big gray eyes. 'I'll tell you what, Ruth,' she said, 'I believe you've something on your mind. It's very bad to have something on your mind. _I know about it_,' she went on mysteriously. Ruth grew scarlet. 'You know about me having something on my mind, Miss Flossie,' she said. 'What do you mean?' Flossie did not at once answer.