There was one chance in a hundred against the identity of the two.
While she was weighing probabilities in her sick dizzy mind, she heard soft steps outside her bolted door, and low voices whispering.

It was the bedtime of happy people with hearts at ease.

Some of the footsteps passed lightly on; but there was a gentle rap at Ellinor's door.

She pressed her two hot hands hard against her temples for an instant before she went to open the door.

There stood Mrs.Forbes in her handsome evening dress, holding a lighted lamp in her hand.
"May I come in, my dear ?" she asked.