cool though she had appeared, the
process had not been without its results, and she felt that she would
prefer to be alone.

"I must write some letters to catch the next steamer," she said, as she
went upstairs.

When she entered her room, she went to her writing table and sat down,
with pen and paper before her. She drew the paper towards her and took
up the pen, but the next moment she laid it down and gave a slight push
to the paper. As she did so she realised that her hand trembled.

"I must not let myself form the habit of falling into rages--or I
shall not be able to keep still some day, when I ought to do it," she
whispered. "I am in a fury--a fury." And for a moment she covered her
face.

She was a strong girl, but a girl, notwithstanding her powers. What she
suddenly saw was that, as if by one movement of some powerful unseen
hand, Rosy, who had been the centre of all things, had been swept out of
her thought. Her anger at the injustice done to Rosy had been as nothing
before the fire which had flamed in her at the insult flung at the
other. And all that was undue and unbalanced. One might as well look the
thing straightly in the face. Her old child hatred of Nigel Anstruthers
had sprung up again in ten-fold strength. There was, it was true,
something abominable about him, something which made his words more
abominable than they would have been if another man had uttered
them--but, though it was inevitable that his method should rouse one,
where those of one's own blood were concerned, it was not enough to fill
one with raging flame when his malignity was dealing with those who were
almost strangers. Mount Dunstan was almost a stranger--she had met Lord
Westholt oftener. Would she have felt the same hot beat of the blood, if
Lord Westholt had been concerned? No, she answered herself frankly, she
would not.

CHAPTER XXXII

A GREAT BALL

A certain great ball, given yearly at Dunholm Castle, was one of the
most notable social features of the county. It took place when the house
was full of its most interestingly distinguished guests, and, though
other balls might be given at other times, this one was marked by a
degree of greater state. On several occasions the chief guests had
been great personages indeed, and to be bidden to meet them implied
a selection flattering in itself. One's invitation must convey by
inference that one was either brilliant, beautiful, or admirable, if not
important.

Ni