gossip which
strengthened her hopes.

"Miss Whitworth had a letter from him this morning," said Jenny. "She
wouldn't open it at the breakfast-table, Mr. Harper says. Quite upset
she was, he says. She took it upstairs to her room just as it was."

"It might have been from some one else," answered Stella.

"Oh, no, madam," replied Jenny. "It had the Midhurst postmark, and Mr.
Harper knows his handwriting besides. Mr. Harper's very observant."

"He seems to be," said Stella.

"Miss Whitworth answered the letter at once, and took it out to the
village and posted it with her own hands," Jenny continued.

"Are you sure?" cried Mrs. Croyle.

"I saw her go with my own eyes, I did. She went in her own little
runabout, and was back in a jiffy, with a sort of 'There-I've-done-it!'
look about her. Oh, there's something going on there, madam--take my
word for it! She's a deep one, Miss Whitworth is, and no mistake. Will
you wear the smoke-grey to-night, madam? I am keeping the pink for the
ball on Thursday."

Stella allowed a moment or two to pass before she answered.

"I shan't go to the Willoughbys' ball, Jenny."

Jenny Prask stared in dismay.

"You won't, madam!"

"No, Jenny. But I want you to be careful not to mention it to any one. I
shall dress as if I was going, but at the last moment I shall plead a
headache and stay behind."

"Very well, madam," said Jenny. But it seemed to her that Stella was
throwing down her arms. Stella, however, had understood, upon hearing of
the invitation for Lady Splay's party, that she could do nothing else.
The Willoughbys were strict folk. Mrs. Croyle could hardly hope to go
without some rumour of her history coming afterwards to the ears of that
family; and the family would hold her presence as a reproach against
Millie Splay. Stella had herself proposed her plan to Millie, and she
noted the relief with which it was received.

"You will be careful not to mention it to a soul, Jenny," Stella
insisted.

"My goodness me, madam, I never talk," replied Jenny. "I keep my ears
open and let the others do that."

"I know, Jenny," said Stella, with a smile. "I can't imagine what I
should do without you."

"And you never will, madam, unless it's your own wish and doin'," said
Jenny heartily. "I have talked it over with Brown"--Brown was Mrs.
Croyle's chauffeur--"and he's quite willin' that I should go on with you
after we are married."

"Then, that's all right," said Stella.

Man