CHAPTER XXVII.
A bombshell, in the shape of Lady Betty Burns, burst into the bedroom of Emily and Mary next morning, while the two girls were sitting up in their great bed at about eight o'clock, reading their letters and sipping their tea.
"May I come in, darlings ?" a voice full of purpose said, and a flaxen head peeped in.
"Why, Betty, of course!" both girls answered and, in a blue silk dressing-gown and a long fair plait of hair hanging down, Lady Betty stalked in.
None of the Council of Three, going to deliver secret sentence, could have advanced with more dignity or consciousness of the solemnity of the occasion.

Emily and Mary were thrilled.
"Be prepared!" she said dramatically, while she climbed to the foot of the bed and sat down.

"It is just what I told you.

She's been the heroine of a murder--if she did not do it herself!" "Heavens! Betty, who ?" almost screamed the girls.
"Your sister-in-law! I had to come at once to tell you, darlings.

Last night, Aunt Muriel (the young Lady Melton was her uncle's second wife and chaperoning her to the party) would drag me into her room, and I could not get to you.