"I could not help it, my lady. I told them you were out, and might not be
in till dark. They said they must see you--they had come from Italy--and
it was most important."
"From Italy!" repeated Victoria, wondering--"who on earth--Did they give
their name?"
"No, my lady, they said you'd know them quite well."
Victoria hurried on to the drawing-room. Two figures rose as she entered
the room, which was only lit by the firelight; and then stood motionless.
Victoria advanced bewildered.
"Will you kindly tell me your names?"
"Don't you remember me, Lady Tatham?" said a low, excited voice.
Victoria turned on an electric switch close to her hand, and the room was
suddenly in a blaze of light. She looked in scrutinizing astonishment at
the figure in dingy black, standing before her, and at a girl, looking
about sixteen--deathly pale--who seemed to be leaning on a chair in the
background.
That strange, triangular face, with the sharp chin, and the abnormal
eyes--where, in what dim past, had she seen it before? For some seconds
memory wrestled. Then, old and new came together; and she recognized her
visitor.
"Mrs. Melrose!" she said, in incredulous amazement. The woman in black
came nearer, and spoke brokenly--the bitter emotion beneath gradually
forcing its way.
"I am in great distress--I don't know what to do. My daughter and I are
starving--and I remembered you'd come to see me--that once--at Threlfall.
I knew all about you.
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