"How did you manage to get all the things?" Mrs. Tracy asked, with pleased curiosity.
"I brought them up last night," Juliet said exultantly.
"I do believe you love me a little, Juliet," her mother said.
"A little, mother! I love you a very great deal."
"Then, darling," said her mother, eager to embrace the favourable opportunity, "you will not mind giving me a promise that will be a great comfort to me."
"What is it?" Juliet asked reluctantly.
"Promise me you will not enter the Chalcombes' house again."
Juliet was silent for a few moments, and her colour deepened. She was not one to give a promise lightly, and she did not want to bind herself thus. But when she met her mother's tender, pleading glance, and noted how white and weary-looking was the face which pressed the pillow, it seemed impossible to refuse.
"I promise, mother," she said, in a low voice; and then her mother drew the girl's face down to hers, and kissed her with passionate warmth.
After all, the mother told herself with a throbbing heart, she was a good and loving child, this wayward, spoilt Juliet.