'We've come back,' said Elsie. 'We heard at the studio that you had
gone away feeling ill, so we came on here to find out how you were.'

'Oh, it is nothing,' said Mildred. 'I've been working rather hard
lately, that's all.'

'You should have come with us,' said Cissy. 'We've had an awfully
jolly time.'

'We'll go into the drawing-room. Wait a minute till I find my
slippers.'

'Oh, don't trouble to get up; we only came to see how you were,' said
Elsie.

'But I'm quite well, there's really nothing the matter. It was only
that I felt I couldn't go on working this afternoon. The model bored
me, and it was so hot. It was very good of you to come and see me like
this.'

'We've had a jolly time and have done a lot of work.'

'Elsie has done a girl weaving a daisy-chain in a meadow. It is
wonderful how she has got the sunlight on the grass. All our things
are in the studio, you will see them to-morrow.'

'I don't see why I shouldn't see them to-day. I'll dress myself.'

The account they gave of their summer outing was tantalising to the
tired and jaded girl. She imagined the hushed and shady places, the