please,” the girl answered, wondering if she ever would have courage to address this dignified person familiarly as “Ward.” It did not seem very possible at present. Sydney did not own a real evening dress, but Ward managed the plain white nuns-veiling frock which she and Dolly had had just alike for the Christmas parties last year so as to make it look very nice. It proved to be a little short. “I think perhaps I had better let a tuck down before to-morrow night,” Sydney suggested meekly, noticing how much slender black ankle showed beneath it. There was a moment’s pause before Ward answered her with studied calm, “I do not think that will be necessary, ma’am.” She was dressed in good time, and stood looking rather forlornly at her maid, who was on her knees, unpacking, with a quite expressionless face, the clothes mother had put in so carefully. [47] [47] “Lady Frederica sits in the gold drawing-room this week, ma’am,” Ward said, guessing the reason of the girl’s perplexity; “the second door to the right of the inner hall. Shall I come with you to the stairs, ma’am?” she added, rising. Sydney thanked her warmly. “I am a little afraid of losing myself here,” she said shyly, at which Ward smiled condescendingly, and said that “Miss Lisle would soon be quite accustomed to the Castle.” She took the girl to the head of the wide stairs, reiterated her instructions, and let Sydney to go down the stairs and through the sombre splendour of the hall, alone. Although lit by many antique hanging lamps, its immensity made it rather dark, and the suits of armour standing in the corners had a very ghost-like appearance. Sydney crossed the black polished floor as fast as its slipperiness would allow, and was about to open the second door on the right, according to her maid’s instructions, when a voice spoke, not loud, but imperatively, “Are you Sydney?” She turned, and saw that a long couch on wheels was drawn up near the great log fire, and that the man upon it had moved his head and was looking at her. [48] [48] She crossed the hall again and came to him, putting her hand diffidently into his.
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