walked slowly down the corridor. Her
heart felt like lead. She fully believed that Nan had not read the
letter, but Nan's eyes might have happened to glance at the postmark on
it. That postmark contained a date only one week old. Nan was the last
child to whom Annie felt she could confide her guilty secret.

"Oh, dear, dear," she murmured under her breath, "what a true saying it
is, that 'the way of transgressors is hard.' I am a mean, low sort, not
a doubt of that. Why, if the Lorrimers and Thorntons really knew me as I
am, they wouldn't speak to me. Well, there's nothing for it now but to
carry matters with a high hand, and to let nothing out. If Nan does
happen to have noticed the date on the letter, I'll tell her she was
mistaken. How could I have been so mad as to carry this letter about in
my pocket? Well, to make all things sure, I'll destroy it now."

"Annie, Annie, we're just going to lunch," called out Hester; "what are
you running into the garden for?"

"I'll be back in a minute," shouted Annie.

She ran quickly out of the house and down the broad grass walk which led
to the arbour at the farther end. By the side of the arbour lay a basket
of tools. Annie snatched up a small trowel, and going to the back of the
arbour, dug a hole for her letter. She tore it then into fragments and
buried it, looked round her eagerly, saw that there was not a soul in
sight, and then, with a certain sense of relief, hurried back to the
house.

CHAPTER XVI.

PERHAPS.

The ball was to begin at nine o'clock. The festive hour grew on apace.
Mrs. Willis said nothing more about the ring, and Annie Forest heaved a
deep sigh of relief.

"Reprieved until to-morrow," she murmured to herself; "and now for high
frivolity."

The horses from the Thorntons' stables were in great request during that
eventful day. Hester, who was most anxious to spare her friends all
possible trouble, had decided that she and Nan, and all the rest of
their party, should dress for the ball at the Grange, and come over in
their separate characters prepared to act their different parts at once.
Molly and Hester were to be the two hostesses for the occasion. Guy, who
was a very gentlemanly boy, was to assist them to the best part of his
ability. Annie promised to look after the refreshments, and also to
establish Nora in a becoming attitude on her bed of rose leaves and
clouds.

Nora made a most beautiful queen of the fairies. She was dressed