re composed than
before. She folded and sealed it--then put it out of sight and rang for
Britta. That little maiden soon appeared, and seemed surprised to see
her mistress still in walking costume.

"Have you only just come in, Froeken?" she ventured to inquire.

"No, I came home some time ago," returned Thelma gently. "But I was
talking to Lady Winsleigh in the drawing-room,--and as I am going out
again this evening I shall not require to change my dress. I want you to
post this letter for me, Britta."

And she held out the one addressed to her father, Olaf Gueldmar. Britta
took it, but her mind still revolved the question of her mistress's
attire.

"If you are going to spend the evening with friends," she suggested,
"would it not be better to change?"

"I have on a velvet gown," said Thelma, with a rather wearied patience.
"It is quite dressy enough for where I am going." She paused abruptly,
and Britta looked at her inquiringly.

"Are you tired, Froeken Thelma?" she asked. "You are so pale!"

"I have a slight headache," Thelma answered. "It is nothing,--it will
soon pass. I wish you to post that letter at once, Britta."

"Very well, Froeken." Britta still hesitated. "Will you be out all the
evening?" was her next query.

"Yes."

"Then perhaps you will not mind if I go and see Louise, and take supper
with her? She has asked me, and Mr. Briggs"--here Britta laughed--"is
coming to see if I can go. He will escort me, he says!" And she laughed
again.

Thelma forced herself to smile. "You can go, by all means, Britta! But I
thought you did not like Lady Winsleigh's French maid?"

"I don't like her much," Britta admitted--"still, she means to be kind
and agreeable, I think. And"--here she eyed Thelma with a mysterious and
important air--"I want to ask her a question about something very
particular."

"Then, go and stay as long as you like, dear," said Thelma, a sudden
impulse of affection causing her to caress softly her little maid's
ruffled brown curls, "I shall not be back till--till quite late. And
when you return from the post, I shall be gone--so--good-bye!"

"Good-bye!" exclaimed Britta wonderingly. "Why, where are you going? One
would think you were starting on a long journey. You speak so strangely,
Froeken!"

"Do I?" and Thelma smiled kindly. "It is because my head aches, I
suppose. But it is not strange to say good-bye, Britta!"

Britta caught her hand. "Where are you going?" she persisted.