d temper--I wonder what was inside
that bazaar?--Well, I knew if I did anything foolish Venetia would
exult, and that held me firm. She's not wicked. I believe she is really
good as far as she knows how, and that's the terrible thing about her.
She goes to church twice on Sunday, she takes puddings and things to old
women in the country, she opens bazaars and subscribes to ragged
schools--yet with one word she sets everyone by the ears--Well, when I
got home from the dance I began to think, and to-day, when they were all
out, I had my boxes packed and came right back here. I'd have given
anything to see their faces when they got home and found me gone."

She sprang up suddenly. A knock had come to the door, it opened and a
servant announced Miss Birdbrook.

Venetia had not changed that evening, she was still in her big hat. She
ignored Jones, and, standing, spoke tersely to Teresa.

"So you have left us?"

"Yes," replied the other. "I have come back here, d'you mind?"

"I?" said Venetia. "It's not a question of my minding in the least, only
it was sudden, and as you left no word as to where you were going we
thought it best to make sure you were all right."

She took her seat uncomfortably on a chair and the Countess of Rochester
perched herself again by Jones.

"Yes, I am all right," said she, with her hand resting on his shoulder.

Venetia gulped.

"I am glad to know it," she said. "We tried to make you comfortable--I
cannot deny that mother feels slightly hurt at having no word from you
before leaving, and one must admit that it cannot but seem strange to
the servants your going like that--but of course that is entirely a
question of taste."

"You mean," said Teresa, "that it was bad taste on my part--well, I
apologise. I am sorry, but the sudden craving to get--back here was more
than I could resist. I would have written to-night."

"Oh, it does not matter," said Venetia, "the thing is done. Well, I must
be going--but have you both thought over the future and all that it
implies?"

"Have we, Ju-ju?" asked the girl, caressingly stroking Jones' head.

"Yes," said Jones.

"I'm sure," went on Venetia with a sigh, "I have always done my best to
keep things together. I failed. Was it my fault?"

"No," said Teresa, aching for her to be gone. "I am sure it was not."

"I am glad to hear you say that. I always tried to avoid interfering in
your life. I never did--or only when ordinary prudence made me speak