e
looked in at the door and muttered something volubly.

"I can manage myself," called out Gwen from her table. "I'm not ready,
and shan't be for hours."

Louise went away. Then it occurred to Gwen that she ought to have asked
Louise to come back again in a few minutes, and take the letter. She
really must try and get the letter written. So putting all the
determination she was capable of into a supreme effort, she began: "I
hope mother won't mind my showing you this letter." Gwen had heard her
mother often say with complete self-satisfaction: "Only a fool is afraid
to tell a useful lie, but only a fool tells one that isn't necessary!"
Indeed, Lady Belinda thought the second half of her maxim a bit clever,
a bit penetrating, and Gwen had listened to it smiling and feeling that
some reflected glory from her mother's wit was falling upon her, because
she understood how clever it was. Now the implied untruth that Gwen was
putting upon paper seemed to her very useful, and it looked satisfactory
when written.

She went on: "I hope it wasn't wrong of me to tell what you said. You
didn't say tell, but I didn't know what to do, as I am afraid to speak
if you don't speak to me. You are so awfully, awfully kind that I know I
oughtn't to be afraid, but I am. Do forgive stupid little me, and be
kind again to

"Your solotory little

"GWENDOLEN SCOTT."

The spelling of "solitary" had caused Gwen much mental strain, and even
when the intellectual conflict was over and the word written, it did not
look quite right. Why had she not said "lonely"? But that, too, had its
difficulties.

However, the letter was now finished. Louise had taken her at her word
and had not returned. Gwen looked at her watch. It was past a quarter to
eleven. At this hour she knew she mustn't ring the bell for a servant.
She could not search for Louise, she would be in Lady Dashwood's room.
She must take the letter herself to the library. She put the letter into
an envelope and addressed it to Dr. Middleton. Then she added her
mother's letter and sealed the whole.

Then she peeped out of her door and listened! All the lights were full
on and there was no sound of any one moving.

The Warden very likely hadn't yet returned. She would try and find out.
She slipped quietly down the steps, and with her feet on the thick
carpeted landing she waited. Sh