It was after tea-time when she found herself alone, and with leisure to attend to what was, she felt, directly her own affair.

During the night she had made up her mind exactly what to say to Leonard; and as her specific resolution bore the test of daylight she was satisfied.

The opening words had in their inception caused her some concern; but after hours of thought she had come to the conclusion that to address, under the circumstance, the recipient of the letter as 'Dear Mr.Everard' would hardly do.

The only possible justification of her unconventional act was that there existed already a friendship, an intimacy of years, since childhood; that there were already between them knowledge and understanding of each other; that what she was doing, and about to do, was but a further step in a series of events long ago undertaken.
She thought it better to send by post rather than messenger, as the latter did away with all privacy with regard to the act.
The letter was as follows: 'DEAR LEONARD,--Would it be convenient for you to meet me to-morrow, Tuesday, at half-past twelve o'clock on the top of Caester Hill?
I want to speak about a matter that may have some interest to you, and it will be more private there than in the house.

Also it will be cooler in the shade on the hilltop .-- Yours sincerely, STEPHEN NORMAN.' Having posted the letter she went about the usual routine of her life at Normanstand, and no occasion of suspicion or remark regarding her came to her aunt.
In her room that night when she had sent away her maid, she sat down to think, and all the misgivings of the day came back.