Now came the most important point, and Fani related it very clearly.

He wished to make a picture of the old ruin, because if he got a prize for it he thought Mrs.Stanhope would look more favorably on his adoption of art as a business; and Emma had thought out a way of getting a good view of it from the river.

Then followed the mishap, which occurred because Emma did not know the strength of the current, nor understand how different the river was from the lake on which she had been in the habit of rowing.

Fani told the whole story faithfully.

Mrs.Stanhope listened in silence to the end, and then said briefly,-- "Very well; you may go, Fani." In the hall behind one of the pillars stood Emma, impatient to hear the result of the interview.
"Well?
well ?" she asked eagerly.
"Well; it's just as it was before; I don't know any more than I did." "Did she scold you very hard?
Did she say anything about me?
For I was the one to blame." "No, indeed; Mrs.Stanhope never scolds; but she is very angry with me, I know, for she did not speak to me when I had told her all about it.
Generally she talks a good deal to me about all sorts of things; even when I have done something to displease her.