"Besides," continued Annie, "the friend your aunt met may be another of those women who adore looking at bargains and old-fashioned gems. I am certain we shall have to lose it; there is no other possible way out." "And I know I shall die in the process," said Mabel. "I feel myself quite wasting away." "You are too silly," said Annie. "You look as bonny as ever you can look, and there isn't a scrap of any appearance of decline about you." It was at that moment that Lady Lushington's voice was heard calling in the darkness, "Mabel, come here!" "Now what does she want?" said Mabel. "Come with me, for goodness' sake, Annie! I can't walk a single step of this tortuous way without your help." "Really, Mabel," said Annie, "you are using quite a poetic expression. Your character of a poetess will be established, my dear, if you continue to speak in that vein." "Mabel!" said her aunt. "I will help you through your tortuous way," laughed Annie; and the girls advanced arm-in-arm. "Mabel," said Lady Lushington, "I have the pleasure of introducing you to my dear friend Mrs Ogilvie." Poor Mabel gave a start; but for Annie's supporting arm, big as she was, she might have fallen. The terrace was lighted with Japanese lanterns, which swayed slightly in the faint breeze. These cast lights here and there, and immense shadows in other directions. Annie and Mabel had now got into the light. Lady Lushington moved a step or two, bringing Mrs Ogilvie forward as she did so, and the four figures were all distinctly visible. "Which of these girls is your niece, my dear Henrietta?" said Mrs Ogilvie. "This is my niece, Susan," was Lady Lushington's response; and Mabel felt her hand clasped by a kindly but firm palm. She looked into the eyes of a tall woman with a pleasant expression of face, who was becomingly dressed in black lace. This lady had hair turning grey, and a face which did not show the slightest trace of being made up. She might have been fifty years of age. "I must also introduce you," said Lady Lushington, "to our little friend Miss Brooke. Miss Brooke: Mrs Ogilvie." Annie's hand was also held for a minute, and Annie instantly remembered that she had sat next this lady when she was enjoying her tea on the terrace, and that Mrs Ogilvie had seen her pay for her own meal. But she could not allow this trifling circumstance to worry her on the present occasion; there were too many other rocks ahead. "We will go into the hall in a minute or two," said Lady Lushington; "and then, Mabel, you will go upstairs, please, and bring down the pearl necklace which I bought at Interlaken. Mrs Ogilvie is so much interested in antique gems and old settings that I was telling her about it." "You sometimes do pick up good things," said the lady, "in out-of-the-way places. From what you tell me, Henrietta, you seem to have hit upon a bargain."