ON the following day Constance was late for tea. Her visit to the village on the previous afternoon had resulted in arrears of work which had made it necessary for her to pass several weary hours in the little office next door to Mr. Deeling’s dispensary, filled with ledgers and a big green safe. For in addition to her other duties she had taken over the accounts of Château Landry.
Tea was served in the rose garden. Most of the inmates of the Château had already finished when she appeared, and were sitting round the large table talking, it seemed, rather more sociably than usual. Miss Collett was the first to catch sight of Constance, and ran to meet her.
“They said you wouldn’t come,” she said. “They said you would be too proud. But I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid. Will you tell me a sto
