letter. An additional chapter--of some importance in its
bearing on the future--was contributed by the progress of events at Lady
Winwood's party.

By previous arrangement with Natalie, the Graybrookes (invited to
dinner) arrived early. Leaving her husband and her stepdaughters to
entertain Sir Joseph and Miss Lavinia, Lady Winwood took Natalie into
her own boudoir, which communicated by a curtained opening with the
drawing-room.

"My dear, you are looking positively haggard this evening. Has anything
happened?"

"I am nearly worn out, Louisa. The life I am leading is so unendurable
that, if Launce pressed me, I believe I should consent to run away with
him when we leave your house tonight."

"You will do nothing of the sort, if you please. Wait till you are
sixteen. I delight in novelty, but the novelty of appearing at the Old
Bailey is beyond my ambition. Is the brute coming to-night?"

"Of course. He insists on following me wherever I go. He lunched at
Muswell Hill today. More complaints of my incomprehensible coldness to
him. Another scolding from papa. A furious letter from Launce. If I
let Richard kiss my hand again in his presence, Launce warns me he will
knock him down. Oh, the meanness and the guiltiness of the life I am
leading now! I am in the falsest of all false positions, Louisa, and you
encouraged me to do it. I believe Richard Turlington suspects us. The
last two times Launce and I tried to get a minute together at my aunt's,
he contrived to put himself in our way. There he was, my dear, with
his scowling face, looking as if he longed to kill Launce. Can you do
anything for us tonight? Not on my account. But Launce is so impatient.
If he can't say two words to me alone this evening, he declares he will
come to Muswell Hill, and catch me in the garden tomorrow."

"Compose yourself, my dear; he shall say his two words to-night."

"How?"

Lady Winwood pointed through the curtained entrance of the boudoir to
the door of the drawing-room. Beyond the door was the staircase landing.
And beyond the landing was a second drawing-room, the smaller of the
two.

"There are only three or four people coming to dinner," her ladyship
proceeded; "and a few more in the evening. Being a small party, the
small drawing-room will do for us. This drawing-room will not be
lighted, and there will be only my reading-lamp here in the boudoir. I
shall give the signal for leaving the dining-room earlier than usual.
Launc