spite of herself, had been waiting
for some sound, a message, or an arrival.

She sat now in the swiftly darkening room, as though she had been told
that someone was coming at such and such an hour and she had heard the
clock strike and was listening for the grating of the wheels on the
cobbles of the courtyard.

The calm winter's day passed now into a purple twilight--lights were
coming in the windows--

She thought she heard a step in the passage and was startled as though
someone had been suddenly, unexpectedly within the room.

She opened the window and listened--"Someone--several people--will come
down that garden path in a minute--I know they will."

But the air was very cold and she closed the window; even as she did so
a clock struck four.

She got up and went to Rachel.

III

The Chinese room was so called because its walls were covered with a
stiff golden Chinese paper. It had wide windows looking on to the
garden; Rachel used it a great deal.

Lizzie fixed upon her mind, very deliberately, all the details of her
surroundings. Rachel was dressed in black with red round her throat and
her waist, and this brilliant colour made her face seem white and there
were deep, heavy black marks under her eyes.

She looked up when Lizzie came in, seemed, with a violent effort, to
compel control.

They sat there for some time and discussed the dance; the dusk filled
the room, then tea was brought. There was a light in their corner;
slowly the rest of the room grew dark.

They finished tea, it was taken away, and Lizzie, sitting quite close to
Rachel, on a little sofa that had a window just behind it, was aware
that again, in spite of herself, her ears were straining for some sound.
The house and all the world were profoundly still.

When the servant had at last left them alone, Rachel said--"Miss Rand,
you mustn't go away to-morrow--Aunt Adela can manage for another week.
After all, she did promise that you should stay for me over the ball."

"Why did you ask me here, Lady Rachel?" Lizzie said. Her speech was a
direct challenge and, instantly, when she had spoken she knew that they
had entered upon those personal relations that they had, during all
these weeks, feared.

"I asked you because I wanted you for a friend--I've no friend--no woman
friend--whom I can trust. I knew that I could trust you--I hoped that
you could help me----"

"I've been here for some time now and you have told me nothing."