If only they had known her thoughts! One day, however, she surprised her husband by expressing a wish to go to the Charity Ball at a neighbouring mining town; it was for raising funds to build up again a burnt-down village.
Hatszegi, always courteous, bowed and consented.
Henrietta had made up her mind to go as simply dressed as possible.

She wanted to be modest and humble, as it befitted a woman who, rich herself, envied everyone who was poor.

While she was still in the midst of her preparations, she received through the post (Margari went to the nearest post-office once a week) a little sealed packet which, to judge from the postmark, must have been posted at Lippa.

Before breaking it open, she locked herself in her room, like one about to commit a capital offence, and three times examined the seals which guarded it before she ventured to open it.

The seal bore the impress not of a crest or an initial letter as usual, but of a single star.