And you looked very well, my dear, though not so bright and chatty as Mabel; and Mrs.Thursby said she only hoped your waist was natural.

The idea! And I saw Lady Carmian notice your gown particularly, and I heard her ask who you were, and Mrs.Thursby said--so like her--you were their clergyman's niece.

And so, my dear, I was not going to have you spoken of like that, and a little later on I just went and sat down by Lady Carmian, just went across the room, you know, as if I wanted to be nearer the music, and we got talking, and she was rather silent at first, but presently, when I began to tell her all about you, and who you were, she became quite interested, and asked such funny questions, and laughed, and we had quite a nice talk." And so Mrs.Alwynn chatted on, and Ruth, happily hearing nothing, leaned back in her corner and wondered whether the evening were ever going to end.

Even when she had bidden her aunt "Good-night," and, having previously told her maid not to sit up for her, found herself alone in her own room at last--even then it seemed that this interminable day was not quite over.

She was standing by the dim fire, trying to gather up sufficient energy to undress, when a quiet step came cautiously along the passage, followed by a low tap at her door.