It was a rough copy in wood of The Temple of Vesta at Rome.

Opening the door for his companion, Linley paused before he followed her in.

A girl brought up by a careful mother would have understood and appreciated his hesitation; she would have concealed any feeling of embarrassment that might have troubled her at the moment, and would have asked him to come back and let her know when the rising of the sun began.

Neglected by her mother, worse than neglected by her aunt, Sydney's fearless ignorance put a question which would have lowered the poor girl cruelly in the estimation of a stranger.

"Are you going to leave me here by myself ?" she asked.