Following upon this, as already recounted, came afternoon tea, over which her ladyship kept them all alive by her vivacious and somewhat quizzical account of her presentation at court, and of sundry other experiences during the term of her late husband’s year of office as Lord Mayor. Her last words to Ethel before going were: “Take notice, my dear, that I shall call for you at three o’clock to-morrow to take you for a drive. You are looking a little bit peaky, and a long country drive will do you good.” “What excellent company her ladyship is!” said Miss Matilda to her sister as they stood and watched the brougham drive away. “I cannot remember when I laughed so much in so short a time as I have this afternoon.” “And she is so good-natured with it all. Besides, it is quite evident that she is as quick to see and quiz her own little peculiarities as she is those of others.” “I wonder whether she will quiz you and me to her friends, when she gets back to Foljambe Court.” “I think it very likely,” responded Miss Matilda drily. “But that she will not do it ill-naturedly we may be sure.” It was the same evening. The sisters had retired each to her own chamber, and Miss Jane was in the act of arranging her hair for the night, when Miss Matilda, in dressing-gown and slippers, appeared suddenly before her. “Sister,” she said, “what a pair of numskulls you and I must be to imagine that our only way of raising the sum of fifty pounds was by obtaining it on the loan of our jewellery and plate!” “And what other way is there?” demanded Miss Jane with a stare. “A way that would have occurred to anyone but two ignorant women who know nothing about business affairs. We can, I feel sure, and that without the least difficulty, obtain an advance, not merely of fifty pounds, but of several times that amount, if required, on the security of the title-deeds of Vale View (our joint freehold property), which are at present in the custody of Mr. Linaway.” “Oh, Mattie, how clever of you to have thought of such a thing! And what a relief it will be not to have mamma’s jewels go out of our own keeping even for a single day!” Miss Matilda nodded assent. “I don’t mind confessing now,” she said, “that last night I scarcely slept a wink for thinking of my coming interview with Mr. Daykin. That I shall sleep soundly to-night I do not doubt.” Lady Pell was as good as her word. She called next afternoon in an open carriage and carried off Ethel for a ten-miles drive. A couple of days later she was at Rose Mount again, this time accompanied by her stepdaughter, Mrs. Loftus. They had called for the keys of Vale View. On their return the sisters had the gratification of being told that Mrs. Loftus had agreed to take the house, and would enter upon its tenancy almost immediately.