alarm for the fire brigade. Of course I had to go, and I've only just
come back and changed my dress."

"You ought to be in bed, Rosalind; it's past eleven o'clock."

"Oh, as if that mattered! I'll go in a minute. How cozy you look
here."

"My dear, I am not going to keep you out of your beauty sleep. You can
admire my room another time. If you have a message for me, Rosalind,
let me have it, and then-- oh, cruel word, but I must say it, my
love-- Go!"

Rosalind Merton had serene baby-blue eyes; they looked up now full at
Maggie. Then her dimpled little hand slid swiftly into the pocket of
her dress, came out again with a quick, little, frightened dart and
deposited a square envelope with some manly writing on it on the
bureau, where Maggie had been studying Prometheus Vinctus. The letter
covered the greater portion of the open page. It seemed to Maggie as
if the Greek play had suddenly faded and gone out of sight behind a
curtain.

"There," said Rosalind, "that's for you. I was at Kingsdene to-day--
and-- I-- I said you should have it, and I-- I promised that I'd help
you, Maggie. I-- yes-- I promised. I said I would help you, if you'd
let me."

"Thank you," replied Miss Oliphant in a lofty tone. The words came out
of her lips with the coldness of ice. "And if I need you-- I--
promise-- to ask your help. Where did you say you met Mr. Hammond?"