Nell of Shorne Mills

"I can give you just five minutes," said Nell, laughing. "This is just

my busiest hour."

The earl waited for a minute, waited as if under compulsion and to see

if Lady Wolfer had anything more to say to him, then passed out. On his

way across the hall he met Sir Archie Walbrooke.

"Mornin', Wolfer," said the young man, in his slow, self-possessed way.

"Lady Wolfer at home? Got to see her about--'pon my honor, forget what

it was now!"

The earl smiled gravely.

"You will find her in the library, Walbrooke," he said, and went on his

way.

Sir Archie was shown into the room where Lady Wolfer and Nell were

conferring over the dinner party, and Lady Wolfer looked up with an

easy: "Oh, it's you, is it? What brings you here? Oh, never mind, if you can't

remember; I dare say I shall presently. Meanwhile, you can help us make

out this list."

"Always glad to make myself useful," he drawled, seating himself on the

settee beside Lady Wolfer, and taking hold of one side of the piece of

paper which she held.

They were soon so deeply engaged that Nell, eager to get to Mrs.

Hubbard, left them for a while.

When she came in again, the list was lying on the floor, Lady Wolfer was

leaning forward, with her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her pretty

face lined and eloquent of some deep emotion, and Sir Archie was talking

in a low, and, for him, eager tone.

As Nell entered, Lady Wolfer rose quickly, and Sir Archie, fumbling at

his eyeglass, looked for the moment somewhat disconcerted.

"If we're goin' to this place, hadn't we better go?" he said, with his

usual drawl; and Lady Wolfer, murmuring an assent, left the room. Nell,

following her to her room to ask a question about the dinner party, was

surprised and rather alarmed at finding her pale and trembling.

"Oh, what is the matter?" Nell asked. "Are you ill?"

"No, oh, no! It is nothing," Lady Wolfer replied hastily. "Where is my

hat? No, don't ring for my maid. Help me--you help me----"

She let her hand rest for a moment on Nell's arm, and looked into her

grave eyes wistfully.

"Were you--were you ever in trouble, Nell?" she asked. "I mean a great

trouble, which threatened to overshadow your life--not a death; that is

hard enough to fight, but--how foolishly I am talking! And how white you

have gone! Why, child, you can't know anything of such trouble as I

mean! What is it?" she broke off, as the maid knocked at the door and

entered.