know how
a real invalid feels, but I never was further off sleep in my life! I
sent to ask the Squire to take pity on me. I'm so confoundedly tired of
myself."

"He is out, but Teresa will be here soon after four. I invited her to
tea."

Peignton looked at the clock, and his face fell.

"It's only three. There's an hour and more, before then."

"Does that mean that you want--"

She stopped, smiling, and he answered with eager haste:

"Yes, _please_! Could you? You are not engaged?"

"Oh, no, I am very seldom engaged. I was in my boudoir working at my
embroidery. I'll have it brought in here."

She disappeared, to come back a few minutes later followed by a maid
carrying an oak stand, which she placed near the couch. The stand
proved to be the latest improvement in embroidery frames, the stretched
work being swung between upright wooden supports, which were connected
at their base by a cross-beam, so as to do service as a footstool. The
while Cassandra selected her chair and a small table for working
materials, Peignton peered with awed curiosity at the work in process.
He beheld what appeared at first sight to be a water-colour painting,
the subject a Southern garden, wherein a marble balustrade was overhung
by an orange tree in fruit. The distance showed a glimpse of a blue
lake, against which three dark cypress trees were sharply outlined.
Beside the balustrade walked the lady of the garden, a stately dame, in
a robe of gold-embroidered brocade, ermine lined, and falling open over
a petticoat of shimmering blue. Her hair was caught in a golden net,
she carried in her arms a sheaf of lilies. On the ground by her feet
fluttered a flock of pigeons.

Several parts of the background were unfinished, but enough had been
done to give the effect of completion, and Peignton's admiration and
astonishment were equally great. It was the first example of needlework
painting which he had seen, and he was full of interest, craning forward
on his seat to watch, while Cassandra seated herself, placed her feet on
the cross-board, and tilting the frame to the right angle, plied her
silks in quick, sure stitches, holding the right hand above, and the
other beneath the frame. She was completing a corner of the
under-dress, and she showed him how, to gain the desired shot effect,
she had twisted together half-threads of green and blue.

"It is the most difficult thing in the world to get silks that are
indefinit