Chapter 15 A GATHERING CLOUD

'O friend! O best of friends! Thy absence more

Than the impending night darkens the landscape o'er!'-Longfellow.

'Miss Rayner is in the drawing-room, and would like to see you, miss,' was the message brought to me one afternoon.

I hastened in. She had been to see me twice whilst I was ill, but neither time was I well enough to enjoy her vi