It was Valentine Hawkehurst, and not her father, whose step her quick ear distinguished.
"Diana," he called; and then he muttered in a tone of surprise, "all dark still.

Ah! she has gone to bed, I suppose.

That's a pity!" The figure in the balcony caught his eye at this moment.
"What in goodness' name has kept you out there all this time ?" he asked; "do you want to catch your death of cold ?" He was standing by the mantelpiece lighting a candle as he asked this unceremonious question.

The light of the candle shone full upon his face when Diana came into the room, and she could see that he was paler than usual.
"Is there anything the matter ?" she asked anxiously.
"Yes; there is a great deal the matter.

You will have to leave Foretdechene by the earliest train to-morrow morning, on the first stage of your journey to England.