net, and rang the
bell.

The man-servant came in. He had his little letter-tray in his hand, with
a card on it, and a sheet of paper beside the card, which looked like an
open letter.

"You know where my courier lives when he is in London?' asked Lady
Janet.

"Yes, my lady."

"Send one of the grooms to him on horseback; I am in a hurry. The
courier is to come here without fail to-morrow morning--in time for the
tidal train to Paris. You understand?"

"Yes, my lady."

"What have you got there? Anything for me?"

"For Miss Roseberry, my lady."

As he answered, the man handed the card and the open letter to Mercy.

"The lady is waiting in the morning-room, miss. She wished me to say she
has time to spare, and she will wait for you if you are not ready yet."

Having delivered his message in those terms, he withdrew.

Mercy read the name on the card. The matron had arrived! She looked at
the letter next. It appeared to be a printed circular, with some lines
in pencil added on the empty page. Printed lines and written lines
swam before her eyes. She felt, rather than saw, Lady Janet's attention
steadily and suspiciously fixed on her. With the matron's arrival the
foredoomed end of the flimsy false pretenses and the cruel delays had
come.

"A friend of yours, my dear?"

"Yes, Lady Janet."

"Am I acquainted with her?"

"I think not, Lady Janet."

"You appear to be agitated. Does your visitor bring bad news? Is there
anything that I can do for you?"

"You can add--immeasurably add, madam--to all your past kindness, if you
will only bear with me and forgive me."

"Bear with you and forgive you? I don't understand."

"I will try to explain. Whatever else you may think of me, Lady Janet,
for God's sake don't think me ungrateful!"

Lady Janet held up her hand for silence.

"I dislike explanations," she said, sharply. "Nobody ought to know that
better than you. Perhaps the lady's letter will explain for you. Why
have you not looked at it yet?"

"I am in great trouble, madam, as you noticed just now--"

"Have you any objection to my knowing who your visitor is?"

"No, Lady Janet."

"Let me look at her card, then."

Mercy gave the matron's card to Lady Janet, as she had given the
matron's telegram to Horace.

Lady Janet read the name on the card--considered--decided that it was
a name quite unknown to her--and looked next at the address: "Western
District Refuge, Milburn Road."

"A lady connected