arrive the Princess Urazov. "But if they do not molest you,
dearest," he wrote, "do not leave your room until seven o'clock,
because I wish my sister to be in the hall ready to receive you
that your family can see that I only desire to do everything
right."

And as she finished reading, Stella got up and told Martha to
prepare her things.

"I have no orders from Mrs. Ebley for that, Miss Stella," the
woman answered sullenly. "I do wonder what has come over
everybody. I never was in such an uncomfortable position in my
life."

Stella made no answer, but proceeded to dress herself, and then
sat down to read again the letters she had received in the last
twenty-four hours.

If her family, who knew her, could treat her in this abominable
way, when she had committed no fault except the very human one of
desiring to be the arbiter of her own fate, she surely owed no
further obedience to them. So she waited calmly for a fresh turn
of events.

Her luncheon was brought up on a tray by the waiter, and some for
Martha also, and the two ate in silence, until Stella suddenly
burst into a merry peal of laughter, it was so grotesquely comic!
A grown up English girl in these days locked in her room with a
dragon duenna gaoler!