There passed a fortnight.

Bertha heard nothing more of Miss Elvan, till a letter arrived one morning in an envelope, showing on the back an address at Teddington.

Rosamund wrote that she had just returned from Switzerland, and was staying for a few days with friends; would it be possible for Bertha to come to Teddington the same afternoon, for an hour or two's talk?
The writer had so much to say that could not be conveyed in a letter, and longed above all things to see Bertha, the only being in whom, at a very grave juncture in her life, she could absolutely confide.

"We shall be quite alone--Mr.and Mrs.Capron are going to town immediately after lunch.

This is a lovely place, and we shall have it to ourselves all the afternoon.