‘Well, they’re very nice people,’ said Louise, with a little sigh.  ’And I like your sister so much.  I’m glad she asked me to go and see her.  Is Mr. Bilton often at her house?—­Don’t misunderstand me, Mrs. Mumford.  It’s only that I do like men’s society; there’s no harm, is there?  And people like Mr. Bilton are very different from those I’ve known; and I want to see more of them, you know.’

‘There’s no harm in saying that to me, Louise,’ replied Mrs. Mumford.  ’But pray be careful not to seem “forward.”  People think—­and say—­such disagreeable things.’

Miss Derrick was grateful, and again gave an assurance that repose and modesty should be the rule of her life.

At the theatre on Monday evening she exhibited a childlike enjoyment which her companions could not but envy.  The freshness of her sensibilities was indeed remarkable, and Emmeline observed with pleasure that her mind seemed to have a very wholesome tone.  Louise might commit follies, and be guilty of bad taste to any extent, but nothing in her savoured of depravity.

Tuesday she spent at home, pretending to read a little, and obviously thinking a great deal.  On Wednesday morning she proposed of a sudden that Emmeline should go up to town with her on a shopping expedition.  They had already turned over her wardrobe, numerous articles whereof were condemned by Mrs. Mumford’s taste, and by Louise cheerfully sacrificed; she could not rest till new purchases had been made.  So, after early luncheon, they took train to Victoria, Louise insisting that all the expenses should be hers.  By five o’clock she had laid out some fifteen pounds, vastly to her satisfaction.  They took tea at a restaurant, and reached Sutton not long before Mumford’s return.

On Friday they went to London again, to call upon Mrs. Grove.  Louise promised that this should be her last “outing” for a whole week.  She admitted a feeling of restlessness, but after to-day she would overcome it.  And that night she apologised formally to Mumford for taking his wife so much from home.

’Please don’t think I shall always be running about like this.  I feel that I’m settling down.  We are going to be very comfortable and quiet.’

And, to the surprise of her friends, more than a week went by before she declared that a day in town was absolutely necessary.  Mr. Higgins had sent her a fresh supply of money, as there were still a few things she needed to purchase.  But this time Emmeline begged her to go alone, and Louise seemed quite satisfied with the arrangement.

Early in the afternoon, as Mrs. Mumford was making ready to go out, the servant announced to her that a gentleman had called to see Miss Derrick; on learning that Miss Derrick was away, he had asked sundry questions, and ended by requesting an interview with Mrs. Mumford.  His name was Cobb.

‘Show him into the drawing-room,’ said Emmeline, a trifle agitated.  ‘I will be down in a few moments.’