’I don’t believe that Violet would have dared to say that she saw him if it weren’t true.’

’Well, miss, a shooting-party’s but a shooting-party, and there was a temptation, you know.  A gentleman who is fond of sport—­’

’Yes; but it isn’t for the shooting he is gone.  ’Tis for Mrs. Lawler.  I know it is.’

’Not it, miss.  Always admitting that he is there, how could he think of Mrs. Lawler when he’s always thinking of you?  And, besides, out in the snow, too.  Now, I wouldn’t say anything if the weather was fine—­like we had last June—­and they giving each other meetings out in the park—­’

’But what did you tell me about the steward, and how Mrs. Lawler fell in love with all the young men who come to her house?  And what did the housemaid tell you of the walking about the passages at night and into each other’s rooms?  Oh, I must know if he’s there!’

’I’ll find out in the morning, miss.  The coachman is sure to know who was at the shooting-party.’

‘In the morning!  It will be too late then!  I must know this evening!’ exclaimed Olive, as she walked about the room, her light brain now flown with jealousy and suspicion.  ‘I’ll write him a letter,’ she said suddenly, ‘and you must get someone to take it over.’

‘But there’s nobody about.  Why, it is nearly seven o’clock,’ said Barnes, who had begun to realize the disagreeableness and danger of the adventure she was being rapidly drawn into.

‘If you can’t, I shall go myself,’ cried Olive, as she seized some paper and a pencil belonging to Alice, and sat down to write a note: 

’DEAR CAPTAIN HIBBERT,
‘If you have broken your promise to me about not going to the Lawlers’
I shall never be able to forgive you!’ (Then, as through her perturbed
mind the thought gleamed that this was perhaps a little definite, she
added):  ’Anyhow, I wish to see you.  Come at once, and explain that what
I have heard about you is not true.  I cannot believe it. 
                                ’Yours ever and anxiously,
                                                   ‘OLIVE BARTON.’

‘Now somebody must take this over at once to the Lawlers.’

’But, miss, really at this hour of night, too, I don’t know of anyone to send!  Just think, miss, what would your ma say?’

’I don’t care what mamma says.  It would kill me to wait till morning!  Somebody must go.  Why can’t you go yourself?  It isn’t more than half a mile across the fields.  You won’t refuse me, will you?  Put on your hat, and go at once.’

’And what will the Lawlers say when they hear of it, miss? and I am sure that if Mrs. Barton ever hears of it she will—­’

’No, no, she won’t! for I could not do without you, Barnes.  You have only to ask if Captain Hibbert is there, and, if he is there, send the letter up, and wait for an answer.  Now, there’s a dear! now do go at once.  If you don’t, I shall go mad!  Now, say you will go, or give me the letter.  Yes, give it to me, and I’ll go myself.  Yes, I prefer to go myself.’