colour, and tottered in moving about. The close atmosphere of the
bedroom would alone have accounted for such a malady. But an
unexpected letter made her for the moment oblivious of suffering.

'Posted in London,' she said, examining the envelope eagerly.

'Some one you have been in correspondence with?'

'It's months since I wrote to any one in London.'

For full five minutes they debated the mystery, afraid of dashing
their hopes by breaking the envelope. At length Virginia summoned
courage. Standing at a distance from the other, she took out the
sheet of paper with tremulous hand, and glanced fearfully at the
signature.

'What _do_ you think? It's Miss Nunn!'

'Miss Nunn! Never! How could she have got the address?'

Again the difficulty was discussed whilst its ready solution lay
neglected.

'Do read it!' said Alice at length, her throbbing head, made worse
by the agitation, obliging her to sink down into the chair.

The letter ran thus:--

'DEAR Miss MADDEN,--This morning I chanced to meet with Mrs.
Darby, who was passing through London on her way home from the