ght, Theo judged, from the
sounds proceeding from her chamber. To be truthful, Theo had some
curiosity about the matter, though she never asked any questions. The
innate delicacy which prompted her to reverence the forlorn aroma of
long-withered romance about the narrow life had restrained her. But
to-night she was so wide-awake, and Joanna and Elin were so fast asleep,
that every movement forcing itself upon her ear, made her more
wide-awake still. The turning of keys and unlocking of drawers roused
her to a whimsical meditative wonder. Poor Pam! What dead memories and
coffined hopes was she bringing out to the dim light of her solitary
candle? Was it possible that she ever cried over them a little when
there was no one to see her relaxing mood? Poor Pam! Theo sighed again,
and was just deciding to go to sleep, if possible, when she heard a door
open, which was surely Pamela's, and feet crossing the narrow corridor,
which were surely Pamela's own, and then a sharp yet soft tap on the
door, and a voice which could have been no other than Pamela's, under
any possibility.

"Theo!" it said, "I want you for a short time. Get up."

Theo was out upon the floor, and had opened the door in an instant,
wider awake than ever.

"Throw something over you," said Pamela, in the dry tone that always
sounded almost severe. "You will take cold if you don't. Put on a shawl
or something, and come into my room."

Theodora caught up a shawl, and, stepping across the landing, stood in
the light, the flare of the candle making a queer, lovely picture of
her. The shawl she had wrapped carelessly over her white night-dress was
one of Lady Throckmorton's gracious gifts; and although it had been worn
by every member of the family in succession, and was frayed, and torn,
and forlorn enough in broad daylight, by the uncertain Rembrandt glare
of the chamber-candle, its gorgeous palm-leaf pattern and soft folds
made a by no means unpicturesque or unbecoming drapery, in conjunction
with the girl's grand, soft, un-English eyes, and equally un-English
ebon hair.

"Shut the door," said Pamela. "I want to speak to you."

Theo turned to obey, wonderingly, but, as she did so, her eyes fell upon
something which made her fairly start, and this something was nothing
less than the contents of the opened boxes and closets. Some of said
contents were revealed through raised lids; but some of them were lying
upon the bed, and the sight of them made the girl