She nodded pleasantly and took her leave. Clara threw herself into a
chair and rang the bell.

"Perkins," she said, "I have had no sleep and no breakfast. What should
you recommend?"

"An egg beaten up in milk, miss," the man suggested, "same as I've just
taken Mr. Mannering."

"Is my uncle up?" Clara asked.

"Not yet, miss," the man answered; "He is just dressing."

Clara nodded.

"Very well. Please get me what you said, and if Sir Leslie Borrowdean
calls I want to see him at once."

"Sir Leslie is in the study now, miss," the man answered. "I showed him
in there because I thought he would want to see Mr. Mannering, but he
asked for you."

"Will you say that I shall be there in three minutes," Clara said.

The three minutes became rather a long quarter of an hour, but Clara had
used the time well. When she entered the library she had changed her
dress, rearranged her hair, and by some means or another had lost her
unnatural pallor. Sir Leslie greeted her a little gravely,