Opening out of this, there was a large airy bedroom, with three windows commanding that glorious view of moorland and sea; and beyond that, a dainty little dressing-room.  The next door in the corridor opened into the room that had been allotted to me; a large comfortable-looking room, in which there was an old-fashioned mahogany four-post bed with blue-damask curtains.

I went to Milly’s dressing-room when my own simple toilet was finished, and stood by the open window talking to her while she arranged her hair.  She dismissed her little maid directly I went into the room, and I felt she had something to say to me.

‘Well, Mary,’ she began at once, ‘what do you think of her?’

‘Of Mrs. Darrell?’

‘Of course.’

’What opinion can I possibly form about her, after seeing her for three minutes, Milly?  I think she is very elegant-looking.  That is the only idea I have about her yet.’

’Do you think she looks true, Mary?  Do you think she has married papa because she loves him?’

’My dear child, how can I tell that?  She is a great many years younger than your papa, but I do not see that the difference between them need be any real hindrance to her loving him.  He is a man whom any woman might care for, I should think; to say nothing of her natural gratitude towards the man who has rescued her from a position of dependence.’

‘Gratitude is all nonsense,’ Miss Darrell answered impatiently.  ’I want to know that my father is loved as he deserves to be loved.  I shall never tolerate that woman unless I can feel sure of that.’

‘I believe you are prejudiced against her already, Milly,’ I said reproachfully.

’I daresay I am, Mary.  I daresay I feel unjustly about her; but I don’t like her face.’

‘What is there in her face that you don’t like?’

’O, I can’t tell you that—­an undefinable something.  I have a sort of conviction that she and I can never love each other.’

’It is rather hard upon Mrs. Darrell to begin with such a feeling as that, Milly.’

’I can’t help it.  Of course I shall try to do my duty to her, for papa’s sake, and I shall do my best to conquer all these unchristian feelings.  But we cannot command our hearts, you know, Mary, and I don’t think I shall ever love my stepmother.’

She took me down to the drawing-room after this.  It was half-past six, and we were to dine at seven.  The drawing-room was a long room, with five windows opening on to the terrace, an old-fashioned-looking room with panelled walls and a fine arched ceiling.  The wainscot was painted white, with gilt mouldings, and the cornice and architraves of the doors were elaborately carved.  The furniture was white-and-gold like the walls, and in that spurious classical style which prevailed during the first French Empire.  The window-curtains and coverings of sofas and chairs were of dark-green velvet.