Lionel went to the store-room, a small boarded room at the back of the hall. A young lady sat there; a very pretty white foot in a wash-hand basin of warm water, and a shoe and stocking lying; near, as if hastily thrown off. "Why, Decima! what is this?" [Illustration: "Why, Decima! what is this?"] She lifted her face. A face whose features were of the highest order of beauty, regular as if chiselled from marble, and little less colourless. But for the large, earnest, dark-blue eyes, so full of expression, it might have been accused of coldness. In sleep, or in perfect repose, when the eyelids were bent, it looked strangely cold and pure. Her dark hair was braided; and she wore a dress something the same in colour as Lady Verner's. "Lionel, what shall I do? And to-day of all days! I shall be obliged to tell mamma; I cannot walk a step." "What is the injury? How did you meet with it?" "I got on a chair. I was looking for some old Indian ornaments that I know are in that high cupboard, wishing to put them in Miss Tempest's room, and somehow the chair tilted with me, and I fell upon my foot. It is only a sprain; but I cannot walk." "How do you know it is only a sprain, Decima? I shall send West to you." "Thank you all the same, Lionel, but, if you please, I don't like Dr. West well enough to have him," was Miss Verner's answer. "See! I don't think I can walk." She took her foot out of the basin, and attempted to try. But for Lionel she would have fallen; and her naturally pale face became paler from the pain. "And you say you will not have Dr. West!" he cried, gently putting her into the chair again. "You must allow me to judge for you, Decima." "Then, Lionel, I'll have Jan--if I must have any one. I have more faith in him," she added, lifting her large blue eyes, "than in Dr. West." "Let it be Jan, then, Decima. Send one of the servants for him at once. What is to be done about Miss Tempest?" "You must go alone. Unless you can persuade mamma out. Lionel, you will tell mamma about this. She must be told." As Lionel crossed the hall on his return, the door was being opened; the Verner's Pride carriage had just driven up. Lady Verner had seen it from the window of the ante-room, and her eyes spoke her displeasure. "Lionel, what brings _that_ here?" "I told them to bring it for Decima. I thought you would prefer that Miss Tempest should be met with that rather than with a hired one." "Miss Tempest will know soon enough that I am too poor to keep a carriage," said Lady Verner. "Decima may use it if she pleases. I would not." "My dear mother, Decima will not be able to use it. She cannot go to the station. She has hurt her foot." "How did she do that?" "She was on a chair in the store-room, looking in the cupboard. She----" "Of course; that's just like Decima!" crossly responded Lady Verner. "She is everlastingly at something or other, doing half the work of a servant about the house."