"Is it nothing I can write for you, mamma?"
"No, child."
Anne bent her hot face over her work again. It had not occurred to her that it could concern herself; and Mrs. Ashton wrote a few rapid lines:
"My Dear Percival,
"Can you spare me a five-minutes' visit? I wish to speak with you. We go away again on Monday.
"Ever sincerely yours,
"Catherine Ashton."
She folded it, enclosed it in an envelope, and addressed it to the Earl of Hartledon. Pushing away the writing-table, she held out the note to her daughter.
"Seal it for me, Anne. I am tired. Let it go at once."
"Mamma!" exclaimed Anne, as her eye caught the address. "Surely you are not writing to him! You are not asking him to come here?"