The memory of the white staring face under the moonlight appalled her.

She tried not to think of it; but it haunted her.
Her nerves were not in their normal state; and as she sat there in the cool, dark, vague, paralysing fears swept across her, of which she was ashamed, One minute she longed to go back to them, and help them.

The next, she recognised that the best help she could give was to stay where she was.
She saw very well that she was a responsibility and a care to them.
'If it lasts, I must go away'-- she said to herself firmly.

'Certainly I must go.' But at the thought of going, the tears came into her eyes.

At most, there was little more than a fortnight before the party broke up, and she went with Aunt Pattie to Vallombrosa.
She took up the book upon her knee.