The Countess was attired in the gay silks of her former splendour. One hand was over her face; in the other she held a miniature, not that of her still unburied son, but that of her husband, fifteen years dead. "Selina Boyle is here; she need not disturb you." "Where is Marius?" moaned my lady. "Is he never coming?" "He could not be here before to-night," said Miss Chressham for the hundredth time that day. The Countess made no answer, and Susannah quietly withdrew, closing the doors as Selina Boyle entered the outer chamber. For a moment the two ladies looked at each other with wild eyes, then Selina Boyle crossed the room and kissed Susannah on the cheek. "Oh, my dear!" said Miss Chressham brokenly. "I am very well," answered Selina, in a voice that sounded weak and hoarse. "I have just come up to town. I told my father; he brought me. I am very well." She sank on to one of the torn striped chairs and loosened her black cloak. Her hair hung in disordered curls under her straw hat, her face was flushed, her lips feverish. "I thought that you would come, but I did not expect you so soon," said Susannah, under her breath. "You received my letter?" "Yes, and I saw it--in the paper." Susannah looked at her tenderly. "I fear you are wearied to death." Miss Boyle took off her hat; there was a tacit avoidance in their speech of that which filled the thoughts of both. "We have been travelling all night, but I am not tired." "We will have some tea." Susannah rang the bell. "We are very humble here; it is but temporary." "Why did you leave home--the other place--so soon?" asked Miss Boyle faintly. "It was not ours; we had no right," answered Susannah. "And I could not bear to stay; we moved at once. This is our first day here." My lord had been two days dead--only two days. They glanced away from each other. "How is my lady?" breathed Selina. "She is not well, I fear. She lives only for the coming of Marius." "She is here?" "Yes, but she will see no one." The maid-servant, treading softly, in awe of the visitor who had driven up in a coach, entered and set the tea. "What time is it?" Susannah asked. There was no clock in the room, and she had left her watch, with every other article of jewellery, behind in the house in the Haymarket. "Nearly four o'clock, madam." "Thank you." Miss Chressham dismissed her, and commenced pouring out the tea. Selina took a cup obediently, but could not eat. "I am a little sick with travelling," she said. Susannah observed her covertly, wondering how much she guessed. Was she still in her fairyland? Miss Chressham thought so. "Do you know Lord Sandys?" asked Selina. "I have seen him," answered Susannah. Miss Boyle raised blurred eyes. "I saw him once, when they played _The Rival Queens_. My lord was in the box with me. The lady he married was with him." Susannah looked into her cup. "You saw my lord but recently?" Selina quivered.