"Mrs Hamilton! I must see her."
"You can't, miss."
"I must. I must. There's something going on. I must see her."
A fearsome expression came over the maid's face as she said:
"I was coming to remind you from madam of your promise to her not to leave the drawing-room."
"I must. I must."
"If I may say so, miss, it will be as much as your place is worth to disobey madam."
These words brought a cold shock of reason to Mavis's fevered excitement.
She looked blankly at the servant for a moment or two, before saying:
"Thank you, Parkins; I will wait inside."