“A very striking-looking woman, you said? I wonder now who she could have been. You didn’t hear her name?”

“It was mentioned,” Katherine admitted, “but I can’t remember it. You see, I was rather upset.”

“I should think so,” said Mr. Evans; “it must have been a beastly shock.”

It is to be doubted whether, even if Katherine had remembered the name, she would have admitted the fact. Lady Tamplin’s remorseless cross-examination was making her restive. Lenox, who was observant in her own way, noticed this, and offered to take Katherine upstairs to see her room. She left her there, remarking kindly before she went: “You mustn’t mind Mother; she would make a few pennies’ profit out of her dying grandmother if she could.”

Lenox went down again to find her mother and her stepfather discussing the newcomer.