"and then come back to me."

Dismissing Grace Roseberry from all further consideration, Lady Janet
sat, with her letter to Mercy in her hand, reflecting on her position,
and on the efforts which it might still demand from her. Pursuing this
train of thought, it now occurred to her that accident might bring
Horace and Mercy together at any moment, and that, in Horace's present
frame of mind, he would certainly insist on the very explanation which
it was the foremost interest of her life to suppress. The dread of this
disaster was in full possession of her when the maid returned.

"Where is Mr. Holmcroft?" she asked, the moment the woman entered the
room.

"I saw him open the library door, my lady, just now, on my way
upstairs."

"Was he alone?"

"Yes, my lady."

"Go to him, and say I want to see him here immediately."

The maid withdrew on her second errand. Lady Janet rose restlessly, and
closed the open window. Her impatient desire to make sure of Horace so
completely mastered her that she left her room, and met the woman in
the corridor on her return. Receiving Horace's message of excuse, she
instantly sent back the peremptory rejoinder, "Say that he will oblige
me to go to him, if he persists in refusing to come to me. And, stay!"
she added, remembering the undelivered letter. "Send Miss Roseberry's
maid here; I want her."

Left alone again, Lady Janet paced once or twice up and down the
corridor--then grew suddenly weary of the sight of it, and went back to
her room. The two maids returned together. One of them, having announced
Horace's submission, was dismissed. The other was sent to Mercy's room
with Lady Janet's letter. In a minute or two the messenger appeared
again, with the news that she had found the room empty.

"Have you any idea where Miss Roseberry is?"

"No, my lady."

Lady Janet reflected for a moment. If Horace presented himself without
any needless delay, the plain inference would he that she had succeeded
in separating him from Mercy. If his appearance was suspiciously
deferred, she decided on personally searching for Mercy in the reception
rooms on the lower floor of the house.

"What have you done with the letter?" she asked.

"I left it on Miss Roseberry's table, my lady."

"Very well. Keep within hearing of the bell, in case I want you again."

Another minute brought Lady Janet's suspense to an end. She heard the
welcome sound of a knock at her door from a man's hand. Horace h