The happy little party at Sunshine Lodge came downstairs on this special evening with a certain feeling of expectancy. The Chetwolds and the Amberleys were very much concerned to know if anything decisive had yet taken place; if Robina had met Mr Durrant and had told him her decision, if Harriet knew, and if when they all met--first of all in the pleasant drawing-room and then in the still more delightful dining-room--they would see Robina's proud calm face looking a little prouder and a little more resolved than usual, and Harriet's queer pale face somewhat triumphant in its expression and Jane looking queer and frightened and worried as she had always done of late. But when they all did come downstairs, the first thing they noticed was that although Robina was in the room, and Harriet and Jane, Mr Durrant was absent. Robina was seated in a distant corner where the electric light fell full on the pages of her open book. She wore a white frock, but had not taken otherwise much pains with her appearance. Robina did not even look up when her companions entered the room. Harriet, dressed in all the finery she could lay hands on, was standing by a table talking in a low tone to Jane. Ralph, who, as a rule, never sat up to supper, was also present on this occasion. He was dancing about in that radiant fashion he had, flying excitedly from one object of interest to another. "Oh, what do you think, Patience?" he said. "I's got to sit up to supper to-night!" "Have you, indeed, Ralph?" replied Patience in some surprise, "but it's rather late for you, isn't it?" "It's not at all too late," said Harriet, just raising her eyes and glancing defiantly at Patience and then turning to Ralph. "In the absence of your father, Ralph, I give you leave to sit up," she said. "Sankoo, Harriet," said Ralph, taking her hand, and giving it a most affectionate squeeze. "Oh! I _is_ glad!" he said. "I feel quite a grown-up person to-night." Robina did not take the slightest notice, but Frederica now enquired eagerly if Mr Durrant were really absent. "Yes," said Jane; "when we came in, expecting to find him here as usual, we were told that he was obliged to go suddenly to London, but would be back here by a very early train in the morning." "John told us," continued Harriet, "that Mr Durrant will return in time for breakfast; we must spend this evening as best we can without him." Here she glanced at Robina. Ralph, who had been pulling excitedly at Harriet's hand without receiving any attention, now left her and ran up to Robina. "Is you sad about anything, Robin?" he asked. "Oh, no," replied Robina. She laid down her book and looked full at him. He looted full back at her. "Don't," he said suddenly, in a low voice. "Why did you ask me that?" she responded. Her tone was dropping to a whisper. "Your eyes hurt," said the little fellow; "they go inside me and--and-- burn something."