to custom, she
should go to her mother's room. Then she put a brave face on it, and
opened the door.

"Here we are, mummy. Good night. I hope the evening wasn't too long."

Long?--on the contrary the hours had flown. Mrs. Cayhill, left to
herself, had all the comfortable sensations of a tippler in the company
of his bottle. She could forge ahead, undeterred by any sense of duty;
she had not to interrupt herself to laugh at Ephie's wit, nor was she
troubled by Johanna's cold eye--that eye which told more plainly than
words, how her elder daughter regarded her self-indulgence. Propped up
in bed on two pillows, she now laid down her book, and put out her hand
to draw Ephie to her.

"Did you enjoy it, darling? Were you amused? But you will tell me all
about it in the morning."

"Yes, mother, in the morning. I am a little tired--but it was very
sweet," said Ephie bravely. "Good night."

Mrs. Cayhill kissed her, and nodded in perfect contentment at the
pretty little figure before her. Ephie was free to go. And at last she
was in her own room--at last!

She hastily locked both doors, one leading to the passage and one to
her sister's room. A moment later, Johanna was at the latter, trying to
open it.

"Ephie! What is the matter? Why have you locked the door? Open it at
once, I insist upon it," she cried anxiously, and as loudly as she
dared, for fear of disturbing the other inmates of the house.

But Ephie begged hard not to be bothered; she had a bad headache, and
only wanted to be quiet.

"Let me give you a powder," urged her sister. "You are so excited--I am
sure you are not well;" and when this, too, was refused: "You had
nothing but some tea, child--you must be hungry. And they have left our
supper on the table."

No, she was not hungry, didn't want any supper, and was very sleepy.

"Well, at least unlock your door," begged Johanna, with visions of the
dark practices which Ephie, the soul of candour, might be contemplating
on the other side. "I will not come in, I promise you," she added.

"Oh, all right," said Ephie crossly. But as soon as she heard that
Johanna had gone, she returned to the middle of the room without
touching the door; and after standing undecided for a moment, as if not
quite sure what was coming next, she sat down on a chair at the foot of
the bed, and suddenly began to cry. The tears had been in waiting for
so long that they flowed without effort, abundantly, rolling one over
another