"There is not a word of papa!" When she entered the drawing-room, she caught her mother standing absently at the tea-table.

The little silver caddy was still in her hand as though she had forgotten to put it down; and her eyes, which evidently saw nothing, were turned to the window, the brows frowning.
The look of suffering for an instant was unmistakable; then she started at the sound of Marcella's step, and put down the caddy amid the delicate china crowded on the tray, with all the quiet precision of her ordinary manner.
"You will have to wait for your tea," she said, "the water doesn't nearly boil." Marcella went up to the fire and, kneeling before it, put the logs with which it was piled together.

But she could not contain herself for long.
"Will you go to the Court, mamma ?" she asked quickly, without turning round.
There was a pause.

Then Mrs.Boyce said drily-- "Miss Raeburn's proceedings are a little unexpected.

We have been here four months, within two miles of her, and it has never occurred to her to call.