It was arranged that the child should pass the night in the room occupied by her two younger sisters and the nurse.
In half an hour more, Marian was peacefully asleep with her arm around her sister's neck.

Lady Montbarry went back with Agnes to her room to see the spot on the ceiling which had so strangely frightened the child.

It was so small as to be only just perceptible, and it had in all probability been caused by the carelessness of a workman, or by a dripping from water accidentally spilt on the floor of the room above.
'I really cannot understand why Marian should place such a shocking interpretation on such a trifling thing,' Lady Montbarry remarked.
'I suspect the nurse is in some way answerable for what has happened,' Agnes suggested.

'She may quite possibly have been telling Marian some tragic nursery story which has left its mischievous impression behind it.

Persons in her position are sadly ignorant of the danger of exciting a child's imagination.