sense of descending trouble was so strong
with her that she felt for the first time in her life that she was going
to prove unequal to her task.

Her life was over and done with! Why had she allowed herself to be
pushed back again into all these affairs of other people?

She was ushered into a square lighted hall where they were all having
tea round a wide open fireplace. She was conscious of Rachel rising,
slim and tall, to greet her, of the square ruddy-faced country-looking
man who gripped her hand, jolly hard, and was, of course, Sir Roderick;
of a handsome, athletic-looking girl in a riding-habit, of a man or two
and an elderly smartly dressed woman.

They were all immensely cheerful and friendly and to Lizzie, white and
tired, noisy and horribly robust. She would have liked to have slipped
up to her room and stayed there alone until dinner, but Rachel said:

"Oh! you must be perished after that wet journey. Tea's just at its
hottest and its freshest. Quick, Roddy--the toast--Never mind the rest
of us, Miss Rand--just drink that tea and get warm."

They allowed her to sink back into an easy chair somewhere in the shadow
and the tea was very comforting and the stern hall with its crackling
fire and its cosy solid shape most friendly. She listened to them all
noisily discussing people and dances and horses and dinners. She watched
Rachel Seddon, sitting a little gravely, straight in her chair, throwing
in a word now and again.

This was the woman.... This was the woman....

She felt a warm tongue that licked her hand. She looked down and saw at
her side the oddest dog, a dog like a mat, shapeless with two brown eyes
behind its hair and a black wet nose.

There was something about the eyes and the way that the warm body was
pressed against her dress that won her instant affection.

"What an adorable animal!" she said to Roddy, who was sitting next to
her.

"Oh! Jacob!" he said, laughing. "He really oughtn't to be in here at
all--servants' hall's his proper place--If you care for dogs, Miss Rand,
I'll show you some----"

As he spoke she caught the dog's eyes and saw in the depths of them
shame. He had been sitting, very square and upright, with his eyes
gravely fixed, with great interest, upon the company. Then, at the sound
of Roddy's voice his head had dropped, instantly he became furtive, his
eyes searching for some place of escape.

Her hand caught his rough coat and she drew him to her side and stro