Downcast as she felt, as the train bore her from him, she felt firm. She could not view the ordeal before her as lightly as he--he did not understand, she told herself; it was natural that he shouldn't--but she was resolved to meet it without delay, and to be bold in the face of the consternation she foresaw. How easy it would have been but for the insincerities she had been guilty of, the craven insincerities! It was her own horrible hypocrisy, not her stepdaughters' disapproval, chat made the task so difficult. As she dwelt upon the difficulties, as she realised the almost incredible shock she was about to deal, the fortitude within her faded, and during the latter half of the journey it was with thankfulness she reflected that she would not have to confront the situation that day. It should be directly they arrived, though! She vowed it. * * * * * She had watched tremulously till nearly three o'clock, when a cab rumbled to the house at last; and her heart turned sicker still as she saw that her stepdaughters were accompanied by their aunt. "We persuaded her to come." "I'm afraid I shall be a sad visitor for you, my dear." "They were quite right. The change will do you good." They explained that they had lunched early, and they sat awhile in the drawing-room, with their hats and coats on--her sister-in-law oppressive with much crape; the young women also wearing black dresses, very badly made. "A glass of wine, Harriet? You must be tired after the journey." She rang the bell. Sipping the port, and alternately nibbling a biscuit, and flicking crumbs from her lap, Aunt Harriet was taciturn and tearful. And she had little to say between tea and dinner, excepting when she spoke huskily of her son's last hours. But in the evening her thoughts reverted to the "happy days she had spent in the house when her dear brother was alive," and she discoursed on them, remarking how "sadly different it seemed now." "It was a terrible loss for you, Belle," she moaned. "But the parting is only for this life. That's all, my dear, only for this life. You'll meet again where there are no partings. You must keep thinking of that. It's only faith that helps us all to bear up." And the hypocrite, loathing her hypocrisy, heard herself answer, "Oh, I know! Oh yes!" At Harrogate the orchestra would be playing now, and he was wondering if she had told them yet! She gazed before her helplessly. She would have to put it off till to-morrow. Said Mildred, "I daresay Aunt would like to go to bed early." "If you'll all excuse me, dear, I think I should." "I think we're all of us ready, aren't we?" murmured Mrs. Findon. And as they got up and filed from the room, Amy said in sacerdotal tones, "There's one thing we want to do, isn't there, before we go upstairs to-night?" And, like one who performs a rite, she opened the study door; and on the threshold they drooped devoutly.