Nell went into the library, and, closing the door, turned up the electric light a little--for the maids had not yet been to the room, and the shutters were still closed. The morning was a wet and chilly one, and Nell shuddered slightly as she sat and watched the second hand of the clock, which at one moment seemed to move slowly and at the next appeared to fly. She had not decided upon the words she would use; she would be guided by those which Sir Archie might speak; but she was resolved to fight as long as possible, to hide every tremor which, at these moments of waiting and suspense, quivered through her. Then she heard his voice, his slow step--no quicker than usual this morning--crossing the hall; the door opened, and he was in the room. Nell rose, and stood with her back to the light; and, closing the door, he came toward her with a faint cry of satisfaction and relief. "Ada!" he said. "You have come----" Nell raised her veil, but, before she had done so, he had seen that she was not the countess; and he stopped short and stared at her. "Miss Lorton!" he exclaimed, under his breath, so taken aback that the shock of his disappointment was revealed in his face and voice. "I--I thought--expected--to see Lady Wolfer. Is--is she up? Does she know that I am here? You have a message for me?" He tried to speak casually, and forced a smile, as if the appointment was quite an ordinary one; but Nell saw that the hand that held his hat shook, and that his color, which had risen as he entered the room and greeted her, had slowly left his face, and her courage rose. "Yes, I have a message for you, Sir Archie," she said, keeping her voice as steady as she could, and saying to herself: "It is to save her--save her!" "Yes?" he said, with suppressed eagerness and anxiety. "What is it? I--I am rather pressed for time." He glanced at his watch. "Won't she see me? If you would go up and ask her. I shan't detain her more than a minute." "No; she cannot see you," said Nell. "I am to ask you to go--where you are going--without seeing her." He looked at her steadily, gnawing his lip softly. "I--I don't understand," he said, still trying to smile. "She--told you that I am going--abroad?" Nell inclined her head gravely. "Yes? But didn't she tell you that--that I must see her before I go? That--that it is important?" "She cannot see you," said Nell, her heart beating fast. "She wishes you to go, and--and to remain abroad----" His face crimsoned, then went pale. "You know--she has told you why--why I have come this morning?" he said, in a low voice. "Yes, I know," assented Nell, the shame, for him, dyeing her face. He stared at her for a moment in silence; then he said, half defiantly, half sullenly: