The visitor drew apart and looked about the chamber.

Her eyes rested on a little writing-desk, where lay a directed envelope.

She looked at it, and found it was addressed to a French servant of theirs in Paris, an excellent woman who loved Cecily, and to whom the girl had promised to write from Italy.

The envelope was closed; but it could contain nothing of importance--was merely an indication of Cecily's abiding kindness.

By this lay a small book, from the pages of which protruded a piece of white paper.