"I am going to take Heather away now for a little time," she said. "Thank you so much, Vernon, for trying to entertain her. We will expect you to dinner this evening--no, I'm afraid Heather won't be here; she will be much occupied for the next few days." "Well, good-bye, Miss Heather, and thank you so much for putting me into the gallery," said the Captain, and then he left the room. "He is a very nice man," I said, when he had gone and I was back in the drawing-room. "Do you know many men as nice as Captain Carbury, Lady Carrington?" "No, I do not," said Lady Carrington, not laughing at my remark, as some women would have done, but pondering over it. "He is one of the best--that is all I can say about him." I looked across the room. The visitors had gone; Sir John had taken his leave; Captain Carbury was no longer there. "I want to ask you a question," I said, looking full up into Lady Carrington's face. "Captain Carbury said something to me." "Yes, dear child. What?" "He supposed I was glad or excited or something, at being in time for--and then he stopped. Please, Lady Carrington--I see you know it by your eyes--what is it I am in time for?" "I was going to speak to you about that," said Lady Carrington, with extreme gravity. "Please do," I said. She took my hand and pressed it between both her own. "Sir John and I," she said, "have never been blessed with a little daughter of our very own, so we want you, as much as your father and mother can spare you, to come and be with us. We want you morning, noon, and night--any day or any hour." "My father and _mother_!" I said, raising my voice to a shriek. "Lady Carrington, who are you talking about?" "Of course, dear, she will be only your stepmother." "Whom do you mean?" I asked. "Please say it out quickly. Is father going to marry? No, it can't be--it shan't be! What is it, please, Lady Carrington--please say it quickly?" "For many reasons I am sorry, Heather, but we must make the best of things in this world, dear, not the worst. Your father is to be married on Monday next to Lady Helen Dalrymple." I sat perfectly still after she had spoken. Her news came on me like a mighty shock--I felt quite stunned and cold. At first, too, I did not realise any pain. Then, quickly, and, as it seemed to me, through every avenue in my body at the same moment, pain rushed in--it filled my heart almost to the bursting point. It turned sweetness into bitterness and sunshine into despair. Father! Father! Father! Had I not waited for him, all during the long years? And now! I felt so distracted that I could not keep still. I stood up and faced Lady Carrington; she put out her hand to touch me--I pushed her hand away. I began to pace up and down the floor. After a few minutes Lady Carrington followed me. Then I turned to her, almost like a little savage. I said: "Is there anywhere in this big, grand, horrid house where I can be quite alone?"