But Reine lifts her small hand with a sudden imperious gesture of command.
"I will not hear another word," she says, in a tone of mingled sorrow and pride. "You must obey me now, Nellie; I am your mistress, not Maud. And I command you never to open your lips on this subject again."
Nellie shrinks abashed. Her whilom mistress laughs low and mockingly.
"You have heard enough, eh? Well, I don't blame you. Well, Nellie, the note?"
"Oh, miss, I haven't found it yet, and indeed—indeed, I've looked in every spot in this room where it could possibly be. Sure, you've tucked it away somewhere and forgot, Miss Maud. Try to remember where you had it last," the girl says, soothingly.
Startled and half afraid, Maud springs to her feet putting her white hand to her brow.
"Let me think," she says, confusedly; "ah, now I remember; yesterday, when I went down the path to Mr. Charteris and Reine under the tree I had the note in my hand. I slipped it into my pocket."
"It must have fallen on the ground," Nellie says, quickly. "Shall I go and see?"
"Yes," Maud answers, anxiously.