It was almost dark when they got back to the city.
"Shall we have tea in your room ?" asked Matilde as they went up the stairs together.

"It is so dreary in the drawing-room." "Certainly," answered Veronica, readily.

"Yes--the rest of the house is horribly gloomy, now." Matilde was behind her on the stairs, evidently fatigued, but as the young girl spoke, a look of detestation flashed across her worn face.

She hated Veronica, now that Bosio was dead.

But for Veronica, Bosio would still have been alive.