and the possible
disposition of her property, had completely passed her by. It was
little wonder that she was so much absorbed. Penelope's letter had
been written on board ship and posted from Liverpool, and it contained
the joyful tidings that she and her husband had returned to England and
proposed going straight to the Edenhall flat. "You must come up and
see us as soon as your visit to Trenby comes to an end," wrote
Penelope, and Nan devoutly wished it could end that very moment.

"I don't think you heard me, Nan." Lady Gertrude's incisive voice cut
sharply across the pulsing excitement of the girl's thoughts.

"I--I--no. Did you speak to me?" she faltered. Her usual dainty
assurance was fast disappearing beneath the nervous strain of living
with Lady Gertrude.

The facts concerning great-aunt's death were recapitulated for her
benefit, together with the explanation that, since Lady Gertrude,
Roger, and Isobel would be obliged to stay the night with "Cousin
Emily" in order to attend the funeral, Nan would be reluctantly left to
her own devices.

"I can't very well take you with us--on such an occasion," meditated
Lady Gertrude aloud. "To Cousin Emily you would be a complete
stranger, you see. Besides, she will no doubt have other relatives
besides ourselves to put up at the house. Would you care for me to ask
someone over to keep you company while we're away?"

"Oh, no, thank you," replied Nan hastily. "Please don't worry about me
at all, Lady Gertrude. I don't in the least mind being left
alone--really."

A sudden ecstatic thought had come into her mind which could only be
put into execution if she were left alone at Trenby, and the bare
possibility of any other arrangement now being made filled her with
alarm.

"Well, I regret the necessity of leaving you," said Lady Gertrude,
meticulous as ever in matters of social observance. "But the servants
will look after you well, I hope. And in any case, we shall be home
again on Thursday night. We shall be able to catch the last train
back."

During the day or two which intervened before the family exodus, Nan
could hardly contain her impatience. Their absence would give her the
opportunity she longed for--the opportunity to get away from Trenby!
The idea had flashed into her mind the instant Lady Gertrude had
informed her she would be left alone there, and now each hour that must
elapse before she could carry out her plan seemed an eternity.