seemed to come up in a minute or two last night: it cannot be very far, and the walk will do me good. Then I shall send a cab back for you and the luggage. You will begin packing at once, and when the cab comes get somebody to put the boxes on to it. Whoever it is, give him half a crown, and give the butler five shillings from me, saying I have been called home suddenly. And give him the note I am going to write, and ask him to let Lady Brayton have it an hour after you have gone."
For a moment Jane's face brightened; that was on her own account. Then she thought of her mistress.
"It's begun to rain, miss," she said.
"I am sorry for that," said Aunt Cathie.
The note was rather hard to write. Lucia received it when she went up to dress, for dinner was earlier to-night in view of the play. It ran as follows:
"My dearest Lucia,
"I think I made a mistake in coming to see you when you had a big party with you. I am not much accustomed to big parties, and it made me feel strange. I am sure they all thought me a little strange, too, and so you must forgive my rudeness, for I think I have done the best I could in going home, as it would have been the same thing over and over again. Dearest girl, it was such a pleasure to see you in your beautiful house with all your grand guests. Pray forgive me, and make some excuse for me; you will easily think of one. And you promised, do you remember, to come and stay with us sometimes, and I shall take it as a sign that you forgive me, for I do not think I could bear to talk about it.
"The sooner you come and the longer you stop, the better Elizabeth and I will be pleased.
"Your affectionate aunt,
"Cathie."
Lucia hurried to Aunt Cathie's room. The fire had burned low, drawers were open and empty. She rang the bell furiously. After a long pause (it was only Aunt Cathie's bell that rang, not her own), a supercilious housemaid appeared. She ceased to be supercilious when she saw Lucia.
"What does it all mean?" she asked. "Where is Miss Grimson? Has she actually left the house?"
"I don't know, my lady."
