CHAPTER XII.
Though Mrs.Toplady seldom rose much before midday, it was not the mere luxury of repose that kept her in her chamber.

As a rule, she awoke from refreshing sleep at eight o'clock.

A touch on the electric button near her hand summoned a maid, who appeared with tea, the morning's post, and a mass of printed matter: newspapers, reviews, magazines, volumes, which had arrived by various channels since noon on the previous day.

Apparatus of perfected ingenuity, speedily attached to the bed, enabled her to read or write in any position that she found easiest.

First of all she went through her letters, always numerous, never disquieting--for Mrs.Toplady had no personal attachments which could for a moment disturb her pulse, and her financial security stood on the firmest attainable basis.