Bessie did not know what to answer: she looked at her strange clothing, and said suddenly, No, she thanked them, but she could not go. They quite understood. Just at that moment came bearing down upon them Miss Buff, fat, loud, jolly as ever. "It _is_ Bessie Fairfax! I was sure it was," cried she; and Bessie rushed straight into her open arms with responsive joy. When she came to herself the Gardiners were gone. "Never mind, you are sure to meet them again; they are always about Ryde somewhere," Miss Buff said. "How delightful it is to see you, Bessie! And quite yourself! Not a bit altered--only taller!" And then they found a sheltered seat, and Bessie, still quivering with her happy surprise, began to ask questions. "We have come from Beechhurst this morning, my niece Louy and myself," was Miss Buff's answer to the first. "We started at six, to be in time for the eight o'clock boat: the flower-show and the regatta ball have brought us. I hope you are going to both? No? What a pity! I never miss a ball for Louy if I can help it." Bessie briefly explained herself and her circumstances, and asked when her friend had last seen any of Mr. Carnegie's family. "I saw Mrs. Carnegie yesterday to inquire if I could do anything for her at Hampton. She looked very well." "And did she say nothing of me?" cried Bessie in consternation. "Not a word. She mentioned some time ago how sorry they all were not to have you at home for a little while before you are carried away to Woldshire." "Then Mr. Wiley has never given them my message! Oh, how unkind!" Bessie was fit to cry for vexation and self-reproach, for why had she not written? Why had she trusted anybody when there was a post? "You might as well pour water into a sieve, and expect it to stay there, as expect Mr. Wiley to remember anything that does not concern himself," said Miss Buff. "But it is not too late yet, perhaps? When do you leave Ryde?" "It is all uncertain: it is just as the wind blows and as my uncle fancies," replied Bessie despondently. "Then write--write at once, and telegraph. Do both. There is Smith's bookstall. They will let you have a sheet of paper, and I always carry stamps." Miss Buff was prompt in action. Six lines were written for the post and one line for the telegraph, and both were despatched in ten minutes or less. "Now all is done that can be done to remedy yesterday and ensure to-morrow: some of them are certain to appear in the morning. Make your mind easy. Come back to our seat and tell me all about yourself."