What if her aunts had opened it! This thought made her quicken her pace so that at last she arrived at the terrace breathless with running; and having deposited her bag in safety, she came out again from the secret passage and got hastily to the house.
But there was no sign of a telegram in the hall, and she mounted to find Priscilla in her room, which she discovered to be in great disorder, her few clothes lying about on every available space.
"Oh, my lamb, where have you been ?" the elderly woman exclaimed.

"At four o'clock who should come in a fly from the Applewood station but your step-father's wife! She was staying at Upminster, and says she thought she would come over and see you--and now it's settled that we go back with her to London to-morrow.

Think of it, my lamb! You and me to see the world!" Then she cried in fear: "My precious, what is it ?" For Halcyone, overwrought and overcome, had staggered to a chair and, falling into it, had buried her face in her hands..