nounced her intention of
returning to London. But Clodagh had implored her to postpone her
departure for another week; and when she had laughingly declared the
delay impossible, had announced her own determination to remain on
alone--a determination which no argument of her companion's had been
powerful enough to alter.

And now, after nearly eight weeks spent between Monte Carlo and Nice,
she was returning to take up her residence in a London flat, chosen for
her by Lady Frances.

Her brain felt feverishly active as the cab, having skirted the park
railings from Hyde Park Corner to Knightsbridge, turned into the square
courtyard belonging to the large, quiet building where she was to find
her home.

Descending quickly, she entered the big doorway and glanced curiously
at her new surroundings. The vestibule was imposing, but a little
lonely. And although the hall porter came almost immediately to her
assistance, and listened attentively to the information that she was
the new tenant of the second floor flat, and that her maid and her
luggage were following in another cab, his impersonal air daunted her.
She was annoyed--and almost frightened--by the sudden, poignant desire
that assailed her to see even one familiar face.

However, she listened in her own turn to the polite assurance that all
was in readiness for her arrival; and in due course she passed sedately
to the lift, and was borne upwards.

As she stepped out upon the richly carpeted passage that led to her own
door, she looked round in the half-formed expectation that Lady Frances
Hope might be waiting for her outside her rooms; but almost at once she
dismissed the idea. English people were not demonstrative! She would
find Lady Frances awaiting her beside a cosy tea-table--or a bright
fire! With the haste of anticipation, she crossed the corridor, and
pressed the electric bell.

There was a slight delay before the summons was answered; then the door
was opened by a well-dressed, unemotional-looking maid.

Clodagh stepped forward.

"I am Mrs. Milbanke--your mistress," she said quickly.

The woman looked at her without curiosity.

"Will you kindly walk in, madam?" she said. "I hope you will find
everything in order."

A chill--a chill that painfully suggested home-sickness--fell upon
Clodagh; but she thrust it resentfully aside and entered the pretty
panelled hall of the flat.

"Where is Lady Frances Hope?" she asked, pausing just inside the
thr