at any place that he would
appoint. Froggy was to be the medium of his communication also.

She made no mention of Carfax to her father. He had hurt her far too
deeply for any confidence to be possible. Moreover, it seemed to her
that she had no right to speak until Carfax himself gave her leave.

She did not see her stepmother till the following day. The greeting
between them was of the coolest, though Lady Raffold, being triumphant,
sought to infuse a little sentiment into hers.

"I am really worn out, Priscilla," she said. "It is my turn now to have
a little rest. I am going to leave all the hard work to you. It will be
such a relief."

Three days later, however, she relinquished this attitude. Priscilla was
summoned to her room, where she was breakfasting, and found her in great
excitement.

"My dear child, he has arrived. He has actually arrived, and is staying
at the Ritz. He must come and dine with us to-morrow night. It will be
quite an informal affair--only thirty--so it can easily be managed. He
must take you in, Priscilla; and, oh, my dear, do remember that it is
the great opportunity of your life, and it mustn't be thrown away,
whatever happens! Your father has set his heart upon it."

"Are you talking about Mr. Cochrane?" asked Priscilla.

"To be sure. Who else? Now don't put on that far-away look, pray! You
know what is, after all, your simple duty, and I trust you mean to do
it. You can't be going to disappoint your father in this matter. And you
really must marry soon Priscilla. It is getting serious. In fact, it
worries me perpetually. By the way, here is a letter for you from
Raffold. It must have got among mine by mistake. Mrs. Burrowes's
handwriting, I imagine."

She was right. It was directed by Froggy, but Priscilla paled suddenly
as she took it, realising that it contained an answer to her own urgent
note.

Alone in her own room she opened it. The message was even briefer than
hers had been: "Sweetheart,--At 11 A.M., on Thursday, under the
dome of St. Paul's Cathedral.--I am thine, J. C."

Priscilla stood for long seconds with the note in her hand. It had
reached her too late. The appointment had been for the day before. She
turned to the envelope, and saw that it must have been lying among her
stepmother's correspondence for two days. Doubtless he had waited for
her at the trysting-place, and waited in vain.

Only one thing remained to be done, and that was to telegraph to Froggy
fo