Thus addressing one another in whispers, the three stepdaughters of Lady Winwood stood bewildered in their own drawing-room, helplessly confronting an object which appeared before them on the threshold of the door.

The date was the 23d of December.  The time was between two and three in the afternoon.  The occasion was the return of the three sisters from the Committee meeting of the Sacred Concerts’ Society.  And the object was Richard Turlington.

He stood hat in hand at the door, amazed by his reception.  “I have come up this morning from Somersetshire,” he said.  “Haven’t you heard?  A matter of business at the office has forced me to leave my guests at my house in the country.  I return to them to-morrow.  When I say my guests, I mean the Graybrookes.  Don’t you know they are staying with me?  Sir Joseph and Miss Lavinia and Natalie?” On the utterance of Natalie’s name, the sisters roused themselves.  They turned about and regarded each other with looks of dismay.  Turlington’s patience began to fail him.  “Will you be so good as to tell me what all this means?” he said, a little sharply.  “Miss Lavinia asked me to call here when she heard I was coming to town.  I was to take charge of a pattern for a dress, which she said you would give me.  You ought to have received a telegram explaining it all, hours since.  Has the message not reached you?”

The leading spirit of the three sisters was Miss Amelia.  She was the first who summoned presence of mind enough to give a plain answer to Turlington’s plain question.

“We received the telegram this morning,” she said.  “Something has happened since which has shocked and surprised us.  We beg your pardon.”  She turned to one of her sisters.  “Sophia, the pattern is ready in the drawer of that table behind you.  Give it to Mr. Turlington.”

Sophia produced the packet.  Before she handed it to the visitor, she looked at her sister.  “Ought we to let Mr. Turlington go,” she asked, “as if nothing had happened?”

Amelia considered silently with herself.  Dorothea, the third sister (who had not spoken yet), came forward with a suggestion.  She proposed, before proceeding further, to inquire whether Lady Winwood was in the house.  The idea was instantly adopted.  Sophia rang the bell.  Amelia put the questions when the servant appeared.

Lady Winwood had left the house for a drive immediately after luncheon.  Lord Winwood—­inquired for next—­had accompanied her ladyship.  No message had been left indicating the hour of their return.

The sisters looked at Turlington, uncertain what to say or do next.  Miss Amelia addressed him as soon as the servant had left the room.

“Is it possible for you to remain here until either my father or Lady Winwood return?” she asked.

“It is quite impossible.  Minutes are of importance to me to-day.”

“Will you give us one of your minutes?  We want to consider something which we may have to say to you before you go.”