ink she will lunch with
us.'

Nesta took her little visitor through a long passage to a pretty
bedroom, and Betty looked about at all the pictures and knick-knacks,
asking ceaseless questions, and fingering everything that she could get
hold of. Her curls were brushed out, her hands and face washed, and
then she was brought down to the large drawing-room.

'This is my little friend, mother,' said Nesta, going in.

A tall figure turned round from the window, and Betty saw her
mysterious lady once again. She looked colder and sterner than ever,
and put up her gold pince-nez to scan the little new-comer down; but
Betty's radiant face, dimpling all over with pleasure as she held up
her face for a kiss, brought a softer gleam to the old grey eyes, and,
to her daughter's astonishment, Mrs. Fairfax stooped to give the
expected kiss.

'It is the little trespasser,' she said. 'I did not know I should see
you again so soon.'

Then she turned to Nesta. 'Grace informed me she intended to lunch
with us. She is in the dining-room already, so we will wait no longer.'

They walked in silence across to the dining-room, and Betty, awed by
the big table, the noiseless butler, and the cold, formal stateliness
of the meal, sat up in her big chair, subdued and still.

CHAPTER X

A Little Messenger

Miss Fairfax seemed the most talkative, but her conversation was a
perpetual flow of complaints; the food, the weather, and her ailments
were her chief topics, and Betty's round eyes of amazement, as she sat
opposite, served to irritate her more. At length she gave a little
start and scream.

'I am sure there is a dog in the room!' she exclaimed. 'How often I
have told you, Jennings' (this to the butler), 'to keep the dogs out of
our rooms!'

'It's my dog,' said Betty at once; 'it's only Prince; he always sits
under my chair; he's such a dear, he waits as quiet as a mouse.'

'Take him out of the room at once, Jennings; I can't eat another
mouthful while he is here. You ought never to have allowed him to come
in!'

'Oh, Grace, he won't hurt you!' said Nesta, remonstrating.

Miss Fairfax put her knife and fork together, and leant back in her
chair.

'Very well; as my nerves are never considered in the least, it is
useless for me to speak; I had better go back to my room. I am
continually being urged to join you at meal-times; yet, when I do, I am
expected to go through the misery of having a wretched dog crawling