was awakened by a knocking at
her door. She sprang from the bed and went to it. She was not to be come
in upon by any unwelcome visitor. But it was Mrs. Herrick; and Flora,
with a murmur of relief, since this was the one person she did want to
see, drew her inside.

"Why, my child, you haven't slept, at least not properly." Mrs. Herrick
herself looked anxious and weary. "I've come to tell you that Mrs.
Britton is here. She came an hour ago."

"Where is she?"

"In the breakfast-room with Mr. Cressy."

"Oh," Flora cried, "you know I didn't expect them. I didn't want them.
It wasn't for them I asked you to come."

"But can't you tell me what it is you're afraid of?" the other urged.
"Between us can't we prevent it? Is there nothing I can do to help you?"

"Ah, if you knew how much you have already helped me by just being
here."

Her companion laughed a little. "Can't I do something more active than
that?"

Flora pondered. "Where is Mr. Kerr?"

"In the garden, in the willow walk."

"Do you think you can manage that the others don't get at him?"

"I can; if he doesn't want to get at them," Mrs. Herrick replied.
"Against a man like that, my dear," she aimed it gravely at Flora, "one
can do nothing."

But Flora had no answer for the warning. "I must see Clara immediately,"
she said.

"But not without breakfast," Mrs. Herrick protested. "I will send you up
something. Remember that _she_ never abuses herself, so she's always
fresh--and so she's always equal to the occasion."

Mrs. Herrick went. Flora looked into the mirror. Almost for the first
time in ten days she thought of her appearance. If it was, as Mrs.
Herrick said, a factor of success, something must be done for it, for it
was dreadful. The best she could do revived a pale replica of the vivid
creature who had been wont to regard her from her glass. Yet her black
gown, thin and trailing far behind her, and her hair wound high, by very
force of their contrasted color gave her a real brilliance as they gave
her a seeming height. But she descended to the breakfast-room with
trepidation, and stood a full minute before the door gathering courage
to go in.

When she did open it, it was so suddenly that both occupants faced her
with a start. They were standing close together, and between them, on
the glare of the white table-cloth, lay a little heap of gold. As they
peered at her she saw that both were highly excited, but in Clara it
showed like a cold sp