CHAPTER XVIII.
THE STANBURY CORRESPONDENCE.
Half an hour after the proper time, when the others had finished their tea and bread and butter, Nora Rowley came down among them pale as a ghost.

Her sister had gone to her while she was dressing, but she had declared that she would prefer to be alone.

She would be down directly, she had said, and had completed her toilet without even the assistance of her maid.

She drank her cup of tea and pretended to eat her toast; and then sat herself down, very wretchedly, to think of it all again.

It had been all within her grasp,--all of which she had ever dreamed! And now it was gone! Each of her three companions strove from time to time to draw her into conversation, but she seemed to be resolute in her refusal.