she received by messenger a letter which interested her
much. So much that at first she was unwilling to show it to anyone, and
took it to her own boudoir to read over again in privacy. She had a sort
of feeling of expectancy with regard to it; such as sensitive natures
feel before a thunderstorm. The letter was natural enough in itself. It
was dated that morning from Varilands, a neighbouring estate which
marched with Lannoy to the south.

'MY DEAR MADAM,--Will you pardon me a great liberty, and allow my
little girl and me to come to see you to-day? I shall explain when we
meet. When I say that we are Americans and have come seven thousand
miles for the purpose, you will, I am sure, understand that it is no
common interest which has brought us, and it will be the excuse for
our eagerness. I should write you more fully, but as the matter is a
confidential one I thought it would be better to speak. We shall be
doubly grateful if you will have the kindness to see us alone. I
write as a mother in making this appeal to your kindness; for my
child--she is only a little over eight years old--has the matter so
deeply in her heart that any disappointment or undue delay would I
fear affect her health. We presume to take your kindness for granted
and will call a little before twelve o'clock.

'I may perhaps say (in case you should feel any hesitation as to my
_bona fides_) that my husband purchased some years ago this estate. We
were to have come here to live in the early summer, but were kept in
the West by some important business of his.

'Believe me, yours sincerely,
'ALICE STONEHOUSE.'

Stephen had, of course, no hesitation as to receiving the lady. Even had
there been objection, the curiosity she had in common with her kind would
have swept difficulties aside. She gave orders that when Mrs. Stonehouse
arrived with her daughter they were to be shown at once into the Mandarin
drawing-room. That they would probably stay for lunch. She would see
them alone.

A little before twelve o'clock Mrs. Stonehouse and Pearl arrived, and
were shown into the room where Lady de Lannoy awaited them. The high
sun, streaming in from the side, shone on her beautiful hair, making it
look like living gold. When the Americans came in they were for an
instant entranced by her beauty. One glance at Mrs. Stonehouse's sweet
sympathetic face was enough to establish her in S