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 298 THE TRAGEDY IN A STUDIO.

down her cheeks as she mentioned the girl's name ; but she was bearing her grief quietly, and was endeavouring, I could see, to restrain as far as possible any outward demonstration of it.

' You will find all you may require,' she said, ' and I shall not be long without looking in. Try to sleep. Miss Challis ; ' and she wished me good-night and left me. I had been in a state of unrest for days past ; my own preparations for departure and leave - takings, though causing no heart - pangs, had somewhat excited and fatigued me. Then came this unex- pected and extraordinary summons. Perhaps the exhausting ride of the day had been the best thing that could have happened to quiet and calm me. At any rate, I was too wearied to think either of myself or others. Almost as soon as my head touched the pillow I slept — a profound, dreamless, and unbroken sleep. When I awoke it was seven o'clock in the morning of the next day. It was not until some moments later that I realized where I was, and for what purpose. After I was dressed and had partaken of some breakfast, the nurse, who had again waited on me, said simply, ' If you are ready, Miss Challis, I will take you to Lily,' It was a one-storied house, and the only room in which I had hitherto been was on the ground-floor ; but now the nurse preceded me up a flight of