f cocoa and a biscuit, and half an
hour later they went to bed. Lamp oil was costly; and indeed they felt
glad to say as early as possible that another day had gone by.

Their hour of rising was eight. Mrs. Conisbee provided hot water for
their breakfast. On descending to fetch it, Virginia found that the
postman had left a letter for her. The writing on the envelope seemed
to be a stranger's. She ran upstairs again in excitement.

'Who can this be from, Alice?'

The elder sister had one of her headaches this morning; she was clay
colour, and tottered in moving about. The close atmosphere of the
bedroom would alone have accounted for such a malady. But an unexpected
letter made her for the moment oblivious of suffering.

'Posted in London,' she said, examining the envelope eagerly.

'Some one you have been in correspondence with?'

'It's months since I wrote to any one in London.'

For full five minutes they debated the mystery, afraid of dashing their
hopes by breaking the envelope. At length Virginia summoned courage.
Standing at a distance from the other, she took out the sheet of paper
with tremulous hand, and glanced fearfully at the signature.

'What _do_ you think? It's Miss Nunn!'

'Miss Nunn! Never! How could she have got the address?'

Again the difficulty was discussed whilst its ready solution lay
neglected.

'Do read it!' said Alice at length, her throbbing head, made worse by
the agitation, obliging her to sink down into the chair.

The letter ran thus:--

'DEAR Miss MADDEN,--This morning I chanced to meet with Mrs. Darby, who
was passing through London on her way home from the seaside. We had
only five minutes' talk (it was at a railway station), but she
mentioned that you were at present in London, and gave me your address.
After all these years, how glad I should be to see you! The struggle of
life has made me selfish; I have neglected my old friends. And yet I am
bound to add that some of _them_ have neglected _me_. Would you rather
that I came to your lodgings or you to mine? Which you like. I hear
that your elder sister is with you, and that Monica is also in London
somewhere. Do let us all see each other once more. Write as soon as you
can. My kindest regards to all of you.--Sincerely yours,

RHODA NUNN.'

'How like her,' exclaimed Virginia, when she had read this aloud, 'to
remember that perhaps we may not care to receive visitors! She was
always so thoughtful. And it is true that