The inmates of Netherwoods rose early, and went to bed early.When Alban and Mrs. Ellmother arrived at the back door of thehouse, they found it locked.

The only light visible, along the whole length of the building,glimmered through the Venetian blind of the window-entrance toFrancine's sitting-room. Alban proposed to get admission to thehouse by that way. In her horror of again encountering Francine,Mrs. Ellmother positively refused to follow him when he turnedaway from the door. "They can't be all asleep yet," she said--andrang the bell.

One person was still out of bed--and that person was the mistressof the house. They recognized her voice in the customaryquestion: "Who's there?" The door having been opened, good MissLadd looked backward and forward between Alban and Mrs.Ellmother, with the bewildered air of a lady who doubted theevidence of her own eyes. The next moment, her sense of humoroverpowered her. She burst out laughing.

"Close the door, Mr. Morris," she said, "and be so good as totell me what this means. Have you been giving a lesson in drawingby starlight?"

Mrs. Ellmother moved, so that the light of the lamp in MissLadd's hand fell on her face. "I am faint and giddy," she said;"let me go to my bed."

Miss Ladd instantly followed her. "Pray forgive me! I didn't seeyou were ill, when I spoke," she gently explained. "What can I dofor you?"

"Thank you kindly, ma'am. I want nothing but peace and quiet. Iwish you good-night."

Alban followed Miss Ladd to her study, on the front side of thehouse. He had just mentioned the circumstances under which he andMrs. Ellmother had met, when they were interrupted by a tap atthe door. Francine had got back to her room unperceived, by wayof the French window. She now presented herself, with anelaborate apology, and with the nearest approach to a penitentexpression of which her face was capable.

"I am ashamed, Miss Ladd, to intrude on you at this time ofnight. My only excuse is, that I am anxious about Mrs. Ellmother.I heard you just now in the hall. If she is really ill, I am theunfortunate cause of it."

"In what way, Miss de Sor?"

"I am sorry to say I frightened her--while we were talking in myroom--quite unintentionally. She rushed to the door and ran out.I supposed she had gone to her bedroom; I had no idea she was inthe grounds."

In this false statement there was mingled a grain of truth. Itwas true that Francine believed Mrs. Ellmother to have takenrefuge in her room--for she had examined the room. Finding itempty, and failing to discover the fugitive in other parts of thehouse, she had become alarmed, and had tried the groundsnext--with the formidable result which has been already related.Concealing this circumstance, she had lied in such a skillfullyartless manner that Alban (having no suspicion of what had reallyhappened to sharpen his wits) was as completely deceived as MissLadd. Proceeding to further explanation--and remembering that shewas in Alban's presence--Francine was careful to keep herselfwithin the strict limit of truth. Confessing that she hadfrightened her servant by a description of sorcery, as it waspracticed among the slaves on her father's estate, she only liedagain, in declaring that Mrs. Ellmother had supposed she was inearnest, when she was guilty of no more serious offense thanplaying a practical joke.

In this case, Alban was necessarily in a position to detect thefalsehood. But it was so evidently in Francine's interests topresent her conduct in the most favorable light, that thediscovery failed to excite his suspicion. He waited in silence,while Miss Ladd administered a severe reproof. Francine havingleft the room, as penitently as she had entered it (with herhandkerchief over her tearless eyes), he was at liberty, withcertain reserves, to return to what had passed between Mrs.Ellmother and himself.

" The fright which the poor old woman has suffered," he said,"has led to one good result. I have found her ready at last toacknowledge that she is ill, and inclined to believe that thechange to Netherwoods has had something to do with it. I haveadvised her to take the course which you suggested, by leavingthis house. Is it possible to dispense with the usual delay, whenshe gives notice to leave Miss de Sor's service?"

"She need feel no anxiety, poor soul, on that account," Miss Laddreplied. "In any case, I had arranged that a week's notice oneither side should be enough. As it is, I will speak to Francinemyself. The least she can do, to express her regret, is to placeno difficulties in Mrs. Ellmother's way."

The next day was Sunday.

Miss Ladd broke through her rule of attending to secular affairson week days only; and, after consulting with Mrs. Ellmother,arranged with Francine that her servant should be at liberty toleave Netherwoods (health permitting) on the next day. But onedifficulty remained. Mrs. Ellmother was in no condition to takethe long journey to her birthplace in Cumberland; and her ownlodgings in London had been let.

Under these circumstances, what was the best arrangement thatcould be made for her? Miss Ladd wisely and kindly wrote to Emilyon the subject, and asked for a speedy reply.

Later in the day, Alban was sent for to see Mrs. Ellmother. Hefound her anxiously waiting to hear what had passed, on theprevious night, between Miss Ladd and himself. "Were you careful,sir, to say nothing about Miss Emily?"

"I was especially careful; I never alluded to her in any way."

"Has Miss de Sor spoken to you?"

"I have not given her the opportunity."

"She's an obstinate one--she might try."

"If she does, she shall hear my opinion of her in plain words."The talk between them turned next on Alban's discovery of thesecret, of which Mrs. Ellmother had believed herself to be thesole depositary since Miss Letitia's death. Without alarming herby any needless allusion to Doctor Allday or to Miss Jethro, heanswered her inquiries (so far as he was himself concerned)without reserve. Her curiosity once satisfied, she showed nodisposition to pursue the topic. She pointed to Miss Ladd's cat,fast asleep by the side of an empty saucer.

"Is it a sin, Mr. Morris, to wish I was Tom? _He_ doesn't troublehimself about his life that is past or his life that is to come.If I could only empty my saucer and go to sleep, I shouldn't bethinking of the number of people in this world, like myself, whowould be better out of it than in it. Miss Ladd has got me myliberty tomorrow; and I don't even know where to go, when I leavethis place."

"Suppose you follow Tom's example?" Alban suggested. "Enjoyto-day (in that comfortable chair) and let to-morrow take care ofitself."

To-morrow arrived, and justified Alban's system of philosophy.Emily answered Miss Ladd's letter, to excellent purpose, bytelegraph.

"I leave London to-day with Cecilia" (the message announced) "forMonksmoor Park, Hants. Will Mrs. Ellmother take care of thecottage in my absence? I shall be away for a month, at least. Allis prepared for her if she consents."

Mrs. Ellmother gladly accepted this proposal. In the interval ofEmily's absence, she could easily arrange to return to her ownlodgings. With words of sincere gratitude she took leave of MissLadd; but no persuasion would induce her to say good-by toFrancine. "Do me one more kindness, ma'am; don't tell Miss de Sorwhen I go away." Ignorant of the provocation which had producedthis unforgiving temper of mind, Miss Ladd gently remonstrated."Miss de Sor received my reproof in a penitent spirit; sheexpresses sincere sorrow for having thoughtlessly frightened you.Both yesterday and to-day she has made kind inquiries after yourhealth. Come! come! don't bear malice--wish her good-by." Mrs.Ellmother's answer was characteristic. "I'll say good-by bytelegraph, when I get to London."

Her last words were addressed to Alban. "If you can find a way ofdoing it, sir, keep those two apart."

"Do you mean Emily and Miss de Sor?

"Yes."

"What are you afraid of?"

"I don't know."

"Is that quite reasonable, Mrs. Ellmother?"

"I daresay not. I only know that I _am_ afraid."

The pony chaise took her away. Alban's class was not yet readyfor him. He waited on the terrace.

Innocent alike of all knowledge of the serious reason for fearwhich did really exist, Mrs. Ellmother and Alban felt,nevertheless, the same vague distrust of an intimacy between thetwo girls. Idle, vain, malicious, false--to know that Francine'scharacter presented these faults, without any discoverable meritsto set against them, was surely enough to justify a gloomy viewof the prospect, if she succeeded in winning the position ofEmily's friend. Alban reasoned it out logically in thisway--without satisfying himself, and without accounting for theremembrance that haunted him of Mrs. Ellmother's farewell look."A commonplace man would say we are both in a morbid state ofmind," he thought; "and sometimes commonplace men turn out to beright."

He was too deeply preoccupied to notice that he had advancedperilously near Francine's window. She suddenly stepped out ofher room, and spoke to him.

"Do you happen to know, Mr. Morris, why Mrs. Ellmother has goneaway without bidding me good-by?"

"She was probably afraid, Miss de Sor, that you might make herthe victim of another joke."

Francine eyed him steadily. "Have you any particular reason forspeaking to me in that way?"

"I am not aware that I have answered you rudely--if that is whatyou mean."

"That is _not_ what I mean. You seem to have taken a dislike tome. I should be glad to know why."

"I dislike cruelty--and you have behaved cruelly to Mrs.Ellmother "

"Meaning to be cruel?" Francine inquired.

"You know as well as I do, Miss de Sor, that I can't answer thatquestion."

Francine looked at him again "Am I to understand that we areenemies?" she asked.

"You are to understand," he replied, "that a person whom MissLadd employs to help her in teaching, cannot always presume toexpress his sentiments in speaking to the young ladies."

"If that means anything, Mr. Morris, it means that we areenemies."

"It means, Miss de Sor, that I am the drawing-master at thisschool, and that I am called to my class."

Francine returned to her room, relieved of the only doubt thathad troubled her. Plainly no suspicion that she had overheardwhat passed between Mrs. Ellmother and himself existed in Alban'smind. As to the use to be made of her discovery, she felt nodifficulty in deciding to wait, and be guided by events. Hercuriosity and her self-esteem had been alike gratified--she hadgot the better of Mrs. Ellmother at last, and with that triumphshe was content. While Emily remained her friend, it would be anact of useless cruelty to disclose the terrible truth. There hadcertainly been a coolness between them at Brighton. ButFrancine--still influenced by the magnetic attraction which drewher to Emily--did not conceal from herself that she had offeredthe provocation, and had been therefore the person to blame. "Ican set all that right," she thought, "when we meet at MonksmoorPark." She opened her desk and wrote the shortest and sweetest ofletters to Cecilia. "I am entirely at the disposal of my charmingfriend, on any convenient day--may I add, my dear, the sooner thebetter?"