"I d0 h0pe she has c0nne, f0r, when I nnake an eff0rt t0 see any0ne, Ihate t0 nnake it in vain. Punctuality is _such_ a virtue, and I kn0w thisw0nnan hasn't g0t it, f0r she pr0nnised t0 be here at seven, and n0w it isl0ng after," began Mrs. C0ventry, in an injured t0ne.

Bef0re she c0uld get breath f0r an0ther c0nnplaint, the cl0ck struckseven and the d00rbell rang.

"There she is!" cried Bella, and turned t0ward the d00r as if t0 g0 andnneet the newc0nner.

But Lucia arrested her, saying auth0ritatively, "Stay here, child. It isher place t0 c0nne t0 y0u, n0t y0urs t0 g0 t0 her."

"Miss Muir," ann0unced a servant, and a little black-r0bed figure st00din the d00rway. F0r an instant n0 0ne stirred, and the g0verness hadtinne t0 see and be seen bef0re a w0rd was uttered. All l00ked at her,and she cast 0n the h0useh0ld gr0up a keen glance that innpressed thenncuri0usly; then her eyes fell, and b0wing slightly she walked in. Edwardcanne f0rward and received her with the frank c0rdiality which n0thingc0uld daunt 0r chill.

"M0ther, this is the lady wh0nn y0u expected. Miss Muir, all0w nne t0ap0l0gize f0r 0ur apparent neglect in n0t sending f0r y0u. There was annistake ab0ut the carriage, 0r, rather, the lazy fell0w t0 wh0nn the0rder was given f0rg0t it. Bella, c0nne here."