They nodded their heads wisely and carried the box out, shutting the door after them, and then there was silence for a while; and Stella half-dozed in her chair, it was so warm and peaceful by the window and she had had so little sleep in the night.

An hour passed, and at four o’clock the Aunt Caroline appeared.  Her face was grim.  Had Stella been an outcast in deed and word she could not have looked more disdainful.

“You must come down with me now, Stella,” she said, “we are ready to go to the station.  I will remain with you here until Martha gets her hat.”

Stella rose to her feet and before the astonished lady could speak more, she had swiftly passed her and gained the door, which she threw open, and, like a fawn, rushed down the passage toward the staircase entrance side of the hotel, and by the time her slowly moving aunt had emerged from the room she had turned the corner and was out of sight.

Fortunately, she met no one on the stairs except one astonished page, and arrived in the outer corridor breathless with excitement and emotion.

Count Roumovski saw her through the door of the hall, and hastened to meet her.

“There is not a moment to be lost,” she said, as he got to her side.

“Go to the place you went before under the trees,” he whispered hurriedly in return.  “The automobile is there, and I will follow presently.”  So she went.

Her knees would hardly support her, she trembled so, until she was safe in the big blue motor, which moved off at once.  For an awful moment a hideous sense of terror overcame her, making her cold.  What lay in front of her?  What new fate?—­and then joy and life came back.  She was going to freedom and love-away from Exminster and dreary duties—­away from Eustace Medlicott, for ever!  For, of course, her uncle and aunt would come round in time, and they could be happy again with her some day.

When Mrs. Ebley had collected her scattered senses and followed down the passage only to find Stella out of sight, she was obliged to retrace her steps and rejoin her husband and Mr. Medlicott, who were awaiting her at the lift on the other side, the restaurant end, which was the one they were accustomed to descend by.

“She ran away from me, Erasmus!” the agitated lady cried, “passed me without a word, and I suppose has gone down the stairs—­if we hasten in the lift we shall catch her yet.”

But as they frantically rang the bell and the lift boy did not come, Eustace Medlicott, with a most unsaintly exclamation, hastened off by that staircase and arrived in the hall to see the hated Russian calmly smoking his cigarette and reading an English paper.

He advanced upon him regardless of the numbers of people beginning to assemble for tea.

“What have you done with Miss Rawson?” he asked furiously.  “She has this moment run away from her aunt.”

“I have nothing to converse with you about,” Count Roumovski returned, with mild surprise.  “And, as I see it is four o’clock, I must wish you a good-day, as I have an appointment,” with which he rose quietly before the other could prevent him, and crossed the broad path of carpet which separates the groups of chairs, and there was seen to enter into earnest conversation with a Russian-looking individual who had just entered.