"Are you in bed, Violet?" she called, in a low tone, with her lips at the key-hole.
"No, Belle, but I am busy with a little writing which I wish to do," Violet answered, in calm, even tones. "But never mind me—go back to your dancing; I can take care of myself and would rather not be disturbed by any one again to-night."
"I will come up again in half an hour," Mrs. Mencke returned, not satisfied to leave her thus for the night.
"No, do not, Belle, please—I prefer that you should not," pleaded her sister.
"Will you be sure to take your drops? You will need all the strength that you can get for to-morrow," persisted Mrs. Mencke.
"Yes, I will take them; I know that I shall need strength," was the grave reply.
"All right; good-night, then, and a good rest to you," said Mrs. Mencke, and the rustle of her silken garments on the stairs, a moment later, told Violet that she had gone back to the gay company below which she enjoyed so much.
Two hours later, when she came up to bed, she stopped again before Violet's door, as she was passing to her own room, and bent her head to listen.
All was quiet within, except for the ticking of the clock which stood on a bracket near the door, and which, somehow, sounded strangely clear, and almost seemed to give an ominous click with each motion of its pendulum.
She did not try to enter; she thought if Violet was sleeping quietly it would be unwise to disturb her, and so she moved on to her own chamber, yet with a somewhat anxious and unsatisfied feeling at her heart.