Simmons opened the door and welcomed her, but it was with a face so altered and anxious that Nellie asked no questions, but went immediately upstairs.
Just outside the drawing room door she met Ada coming down to greet her.
"Dear Nellie," she said, commanding herself with great effort, "mamma is very ill, papa told me to say. Will you take off your things and come in as if you had not been away."
Nellie did as she was told, but dared not venture into the nursery on her way up. She could hear hushed voices, and the little clatter of tea-cups; but she feared lest the sight of her should raise a shout, and she passed into her room.
In a minute more, a little footstep was heard entering, and Netta, with a woebegone face, stood at her side holding a cup of tea.
"Mary sent you this, Nellie," she said, looking up shyly, and hardly expecting to be kissed.
She was folded in her sister's arms; but she soon managed to say sedately, "Mary says she cannot leave baby, but you are on no account to go down till you have eaten this piece of bread and butter and had your tea."
"Thank her, dear, very much. I will do as she advises."
"She says dear mamma does not know you are come, so there is no hurry; and you will feel all the better for it."
Netta withdrew, having discharged her message, and Nellie swallowed her tea mechanically, hardly knowing what she was doing.