experienced for such mistakes in tact.

Still in silence, she peeled the stout figure of its dressing gown and
helped it into a short, knitted bed-jacket.

"When you get the dining-room scuttle, put out the light there and in the
corridor," Mrs. Ellsworth said. "If you leave this door open you can see
your way with the coals. No use your creaking back and forth just as I've
settled down to rest. Besides, there's somebody else to think of. I hope
he hasn't been disturbed already!"

"Somebody else?" echoed the girl with a gasp. There was no longer any
fear that her curiosity had not caught fire. Mrs. Ellsworth was
satisfied.

"Yes, somebody else," she condescended to repeat. "A certain person has
come since you went out. I suppose, _in the circumstances_, you do not
need to be told _who_."

"I--I don't know what you mean by 'in the circumstances'," Annesley
stammered.

"That's not intelligent of you, considering where you have spent the
evening," sneered Mrs. Ellsworth.

Annesley's ears tingled as if they had been boxed. Could it be that Mrs.
Ellsworth knew of the trick played on her--knew that her companion had
not been to the Smiths'?

"I'm afraid I don't understand," she deprecated.