‘What a good thing, for I am afraid you would not find it very easy to make one,’ retorted Maud quickly. ‘Well, I must go now. I hope you will find the books interesting, but I am afraid you will be disappointed.’ Maud swept away, and Mrs. Belassis heaved a sigh of relief. She believed that she would not now be further molested; and when she heard the carriage roll away, a smile of triumph crossed her face. The triumph was short-lived. The door opened softly and admitted Mrs. Lorraine. ‘Good-afternoon, Celia. I have brought my work in here this afternoon. It is the coolest room in the house, I think.’ She sat down beside the window, and drew out her work, talking quietly and gently the while. ‘I thought you were going to a party with Maud,’ said Mrs. Belassis sharply. ‘I have changed my mind. It is too hot to enjoy such things.’ ‘You have never let Maud go alone! She is not to be trusted by herself anywhere.’ ‘I have the greatest confidence in dear Maud. But she will not go alone. We were to call for Mrs. Nelson. Maud will go now under her care.’ Mrs. Belassis turned over her books with the haste of deeply-seated annoyance. Then she turned irritably upon the gentle sister, whom she had been accustomed for so many years to tyrannize over successfully. ‘Well, I wish you would go away now, Olive. I can’t bear company when I want to study.’ ‘I will not disturb you,’ answered Mrs. Lorraine, settling herself quietly back in her chair. Mrs. Belassis looked rather as she might have done had a dove turned upon her. ‘You decline to leave me, do you, Olive?’ ‘Yes, Celia, I do. You are our guest whilst you are in this house—Maud’s and mine. It is not usual to leave guests alone.’ Mrs. Lorraine spoke timidly yet firmly. She had not lived two months under Tor’s protection for nothing. She was not ashamed or afraid to assume that position which he had always accorded to her. But Mrs. Belassis’ wrath knew no bounds, and to Olive she allowed it to burst out. ‘In point of fact, you have remained behind in order to spy upon my doings?’ ‘And whose fault is it if I have?’ asked Mrs. Lorraine, not without dignity. ‘What should we have seen had anyone spied upon you whilst you were shut up in Philip’s room the other day? It is you who force us to watch you, Celia. Philip is away, and we are responsible for what goes on in his absence.’ Mrs. Belassis sneered. ‘And so I cannot be allowed to make a few notes from these books without supervision? Even old Uncle Maynard, the misanthrope, was less cautious than you seem to be. Are you afraid that I shall walk off with some rare book? I cannot think what has come over you, Olive.’ ‘I could say the same of you, Celia. Why should you object to my presence here, unless——’ But Mrs. Belassis rose with dignity. ‘I shall not remain here to be insulted. Some day, Olive Lorraine, you shall be made to rue the day when you played the spy upon me, and made me Philip Debenham’s declared enemy.’