They went home presently, and Annette soon found from Mrs. Fleming’s manner that she was both angry and jealous because of her long stay in the conservatory. This only amused her, and she said saucily: “Really, I couldn’t get away any sooner! I declare, I have made quite an impression on his lordship, and he is going to call on me to-morrow!” CHAPTER XXX. REMORSE AND REPENTANCE. It is quite safe to say that Annette’s slumbers after the ball were not very peaceful. The startling events of the evening banished repose. For one thing, she had instantly recognized in Mr. Sherwood’s companion, Reed Raymond, her old lover, Ray Dering. She was at a loss to know why he had entered the house on that footing, and she leaped to the angry conclusion that in his mad jealousy of her he had done so to spy upon her actions. Anger and resentment filled her outraged heart, and she determined to seek an interview with him on the morrow, and threaten to denounce him to his victim unless he took leave. Then, too, the reappearance of Dallas Bain upon the scene filled her with anxiety. The startling discovery of the mysterious plot to separate Dallas and Daisie filled her with dismay when she contemplated what effect it would produce if it became known to the latter. That the young girl was already most unhappy, she knew. She doubted not the knowledge of the truth would drive her to despair. She was certain that it would cause an unalienable rupture between Daisie and Mrs. Fleming, and what part in it Royall Sherwood must play she could not conjecture. That it could only result in added unhappiness to the wedded pair she knew. So she had done what she believed the wisest thing in persuading Lord Werter to suffer his wrongs in silence for his old love’s sake. But the failure of her effort to get him to leave New York filled her with alarm. While he remained there and chose to seek the society of the girl he loved, and of whom he had been so cruelly cheated, she could not tell what would happen. But Lord Werter was obdurate in his refusal to go, and she could not force his obedience. “Oh, what a muddle it all is! I do not know where to turn for comfort!” sobbed the poor girl; and her pillow was wet with tears when she sank into troubled sleep, so that her eyes were heavy and her cheek pale when she entered the breakfast room next morning. She found Daisie and Mr. Sherwood, with his new companion, already waiting; but as the latter was entertaining them with some witty narration of an event of foreign travel, they did not seem impatient. She bowed a subdued good morning to all, and was very quiet when they took their places at the table with Reed Raymond for her vis-à-vis. She did not speak to him, did not notice him, and he comprehended with trouble that he was recognized.