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with Mrs. Holmes. But in truth the latter seemed to display very little interest in them, now that she was assured as to Ann’s intentions, Her eyes were darkly ringed, but vague, as though oblivious of outward things, and seeing only some vision of despair.

“You’ll stay here until the end of the week?”

“Of course I will if you wish me to.”

“I shall have to go into Wairiri myself tomorrow—I’ll make arrangements for Biddy and Jo to go to Mrs. Marley’s school there. She often has children in the holidays, so they could go at once. I don’t feel well enough to manage them myself at present.”

Mrs. Pratt was better, but her temperature was still above normal, and she was not yet able to leave her room. Consequently, Ann cooked the breakfast again next morning, and fell upon the housework with the same fierce concentration. It was at least a blessing to be able to tire one’s self out physically in this way. She was alone with Emily, for Mrs. Holmes had been motored into Omoana by Pratt, after an early breakfast, in order to catch the service car to Wairiri. When Pratt returned he came up to the house with a note. Emily took it from him at the back door, and brought it in to Ann. It was addressed to Holmes, and it was in Vera’s big, bold handwriting.

Ann supposed that it was a message letting Dick Holmes know what time Vera wished to be met in the evening. The service car from Wairiri usually reached Omoana between four and five. But Holmes was away at the back of the run, and Ann put the note on the table in the smoking-room, to await his return.

He did not get back to lunch, and it was only when she was giving the little girls their tea that she heard his step on the veranda. He moved into the smoking-