’So we did, dear,’ said Nancy, with provoking coolness, ’and we’ll keep our promise, that is, you shall, you and Willy. But as for me, to take tea with those two, with that old mummy of a writer, that hates me like poison, and good, dull Archie, that we’ve had such a dose of, of late,—my dear, ’twould choke me, and that’s a fact! Now, don’t look so shocked. Besides,’ she added, lowering her voice, ’to be strictly honest, and you know I am so with _you_, my love, and tell you everything—I’ve other fish to fry. Ally, my poet is free to-day, for the first time! For the very first time, he goes out. All sorts of tiresome engagements bind him this day, he says, that he dare not neglect. But there’s a chance, Ally, a little, little chance, like the faintest star in the firmament, that he may visit his friend. Think of it, and you’ll see that not for a kingdom would I risk his not finding me here. Far more likely ’twill be to-morrow or Saturday ... but ... oh, Ally, it might be to-day!’ ’But for me,’—said Alison, troubled at heart, ’can I possibly go to the house of these gentlemen alone?’ ’Oh, lud, child, with Willy, yes, of course!’ exclaimed Nancy, impatiently. ’Why, now,’ she went on, with a titter, ’were it a question of taking tea with old Creighton alone, your duenna might hesitate, but with Archie there, why, every element of propriety is present. Don’t you know him yet, child? As safe as a church, haven’t I told you a thousand times, and about as lively. There, run away now, and get your things out. I’m sure I wish you had a gayer spark than Archie to dress up for.’ ’I think Mr. Herries is very kind to—to us,’ said Alison, with her head in the air. ’Kind?’ said Nancy, ’kind as a grandfather, dear. Who ever doubted it?’ When the hour arrived, Alison in her fine pelisse and hood, and Willy, wriggling in the agonies of his ’Sunday suit,’ were prepared to start. There was a look of beaming pleasure on Alison’s face, but it clouded over when she saw that Nancy drew from her desk the inevitable letter, shut and sealed for delivery. ’Ah, love,’ Nancy cried, in her softest voice, ’you’ll leave this for me on the way home, won’t you? ’Tis on your road coming by the bridge, and won’t take a minute.’ ’Must I—_must_ I take it?’ said poor Alison, looking very blank. ’I—I thought you expected Mr. Burns to-day....’ ’The merest chance, child,’ cried Nancy, impatiently. ’And this note is _most particular_, Ally, for it tells him all my movements for the next few days, so that there may be no chance of our missing. ’Tis not like my Ally to refuse me a little favour like this,’ she added, reproachfully. ’I’ll take it, Nancy,’ said Alison, sadly. Refuse Nancy a favour? How could she? But the letter in her pocket seemed to burn her. To leave it meant a moment of degradation always. But to leave it—going straight from Herries’s house—hiding it from him all the time—hurt her honour, hurt her very heart.