But in Thornton Grange Evelyn would meet many of her old friends, and a slight doubt came into her eyes.

“No, I won’t hear of a refusal.  You are going to Glasgow; Thornton Grange is on your way there; you can easily spend three days with us.  No, no, no, Evelyn, you must come; I want to hear all about your religious scruples.”

“That is the last thing I should like to speak about.  Besides, religious scruples, dear Lady Ascott—­”

“Well, then, you shan’t speak about them at all; nobody will ask you about them.  To tell you the truth, my dear, I don’t think my friends would understand you if you did.  But you will come; that is the principal thing.  Now, not another word; you mustn’t tire your voice; you have to sing again.”  And Lady Ascott returned to the concert-hall for the second part of the programme.

After the concert Evelyn was handed a letter, saying that she would be expected to-morrow at Thornton Grange; the trains were as follows:  if she came by this train she would be in time for tea, and if she came by the other she would be just in time for dinner.

“She’s a kind soul, and after all she has done it is difficult to refuse her.”  So Evelyn sent a wire accepting the invitation....  Besides, there was no reason for refusing unless—­A knock!  Her manager! and he had come to tell her they had taken more money that night than on any previous night.  “Perhaps Lady Ascott may have some more friends in Glasgow and will write to them,” he added as he bade her good-night.

“Three hundred pounds!  Only a few of the star singers would have gathered as much money into a hall,” and to the dull sound of gold pieces she fell asleep.  But the sound of gold is the sweetest tribute to the actress’s vanity, and this tribute Evelyn had missed to some extent in the preceding concerts; the others were artistic successes, but money had not flowed in, and a half-empty concert-room puts an emptiness into the heart of the concert singer that nothing else can.  But the Edinburgh concert had been different; people had been more appreciative, her singing had excited more enthusiasm.  Lady Ascott had brought musical people to hear her, and Evelyn awoke, thinking that she would not miss seeing Lady Ascott for anything; and while looking forward to seeing her at Thornton Grange, she thought of the money she had made for the poor nuns, and then of the money awaiting her in Glasgow....  It would be nice if by any chance Lady Ascott were persuaded to come to Glasgow for the concert, bringing her party with her.  Anything was possible with Lady Ascott; she would go anywhere to hear music.

“But what an evening!” and she watched the wet country.  A high wind had been blowing all day, but the storm had begun in the dusk, and when she arrived at the station the coachman could hardly get his horses to face the wind and rain.  In answer to her question the footman told her Thornton Grange was about a mile from the station; and when the carriage turned into the park she peered through the wet panes, trying to see the trees which Owen had often said were the finest in Scotland; but she could only distinguish blurred masses, and the yellow panes of a parapeted house.