heodora, all unconscious of any evil, was already
surrounded by three bitter enemies--Mildred, Lady Harrowfield, and
Morella Winmarleigh. It did not look as though her Whitsuntide could be
going to contain much joy.

It was a good deal after six o'clock by now. Bridge-tables had already
appeared, and most of the company had commenced to play. Barbara saw the
look in Mildred's eye as she came across, and, ignoring Theodora quite,
tried to carry off Lord Wensleydown.

"You must come, Freddy," she said. "Lady Harrowfield wants to begin her
rubber."

Barbara, knowing what this move meant, and blushing for her cousin's
rudeness, nervously introduced Theodora to her.

"How d' do," said Mildred, staring over her head. "Don't detain Lord
Wensleydown, please, because Lady Harrowfield hates to be kept waiting."

Theodora rose and smiled, while she said to Barbara: "I am rather tired.
Mayn't I go to my room for a little rest before dinner?"

"Take him, Lady Mildred, do," said Hector; "we don't want him," and he
laughed gayly. His beautiful, tender angel might be a match for these
people after all. At any rate, he would be at her side to protect her
from their claws.

Lord Wensleydown frowned. Mildred was being a damned nuisance, he said
to himself, and he insisted upon accompanying Theodora to the bottom of
the great staircase, which rose to magnificent galleries in the hall
adjoining the saloon.

Sir Patrick had advanced and engaged Josiah in conversation.

He knew his guests' ways and how they would boycott him, and, with a
serious question like those Australian shares on the _tapis_, he was not
going to have Josiah insulted and ruffled just yet.

"Don't stay up-stairs all the time," Hector had managed to whisper,
while Mildred and Lord Wensleydown stood arguing; "they are sure not to
dine till nine; there are two hours before you need dress, and we can
certainly find some nice sitting-room to talk in."

But Theodora, with immense self-denial, had answered: "No, I want to
write a long letter to papa and my sisters. I won't come down again
until dinner."

And he was forced to be content with the memory of her soft smile and
the evident regret in her eyes.

XXIV

Theodora was greatly interested in Beechleigh. To her the home of her
fathers was full of sentiment, and the thought that her grandfather had
ruled there pleased her. How she would love and cherish it were it her
home now! Every one of these fine