What will not hunger—real, healthy hunger—effect? Lady Frances, after her last words, swept out of the room; and Jasper, her bosom¹ heaving, her black eyes flashing angry fire, looked full at her little charge. What would Evelyn do now? The spoilt child, who could scarcely brook² the smallest contradiction, who had declined to get up even to breakfast, to do without Jasper! To allow her friend Jasper to be torn from her arms—Jasper, who had been her mother’s dearest companion, who had sworn to that mother that she would not leave Evelyn come what might, that she would protect her against the tyrant³ aunt and the tyrant uncle, that if necessary she would fight for her with the power which the law bestows⁴! Oh, what an awful moment had arrived! Jasper was to go. What would Evelyn do now?  
Evelyn’s first impulse had been all that was satisfactory. Her fury had burst forth⁵ in wild, indignant words. But now, when the child and the maid found themselves alone, Jasper waited in expectancy⁶ which was almost certainty. Evelyn would not submit to this? She and her charge would leave Castle Wynford 118 together that very day. If they were eventually parted, the law should part them.
 
Still Evelyn was silent.
 
“Oh Eve—my dear Miss Evelyn—my treasure!” said the afflicted⁷ woman.
 
“Yes, Jasper?” said Evelyn then. “It is an awful nuisance.”
 
“A nuisance! Is that all you have got to say?”
 
Evelyn rubbed her eyes.
 
“I won’t submit, of course,” she said. “No, I won’t submit for a minute. But, Jasper, I must have some breakfast; I am too hungry for anything. Perhaps you had better take all my darling, lovely clothes; and if you have to go, Jasper, I’ll—I’ll never forget you; but I’ll talk to you more about it when I have had something to eat.”
 
Evelyn turned and left the room. She was in an ugly dress, beyond doubt, but in her neat black shoes and stockings, and with her fair hair tied back according to Lady Frances’s directions, she looked rather more presentable than she had done the previous day. She entered the breakfast-room. The remains⁸ of a meal still lay upon the table. Evelyn looked impatiently round. Surely some one ought to appear—a servant at the very least! Hot tea she required, hot coffee, dishes nicely cooked and tempting⁹ and fresh. The little girl went to the bell and rang it. A footman appeared.
 
“Get my breakfast immediately,” said Evelyn.
 
The man withdrew, endeavoring to hide a smile. Evelyn’s conduct in daring to defy Lady Frances 119 had been the amusement of the servants’ hall that morning. The man went to the kitchen premises¹⁰ now with the announcement that “miss” had come to her senses.
 
“She is as white as a sheet, and looks as mad as a hatter,” said the man; “but her spirit ain’t broke. My word! she ’ave got a will of her own. ‘My breakfast, immediate,’ says she, as though she were the lady of the manor¹¹.”
 
“Which she will be some day,” said cook; “and I ’ates to think of it. Our beautiful Miss Audrey supplanted¹² by the like of her. There, Johnson! my missus said that Miss Wynford was to have quite a plain breakfast, so take it up—do.”
 
Toast, fresh tea, and one solitary¹³ new-laid egg were placed on a tray and brought up to the breakfast-room.
 
Evelyn sat down without a word, poured herself out some tea, ate every crumb¹⁴ of toast, finished her egg, and felt refreshed. She had just concluded her meal when Audrey, accompanied by Arthur Jervice, ran into the room.
 
“Oh, I say, Evelyn,” cried Audrey, “you are the very person that we want. We are getting up charades¹⁵ for to-night; will you join us?”
 
“Yes, do, please,” said Arthur. “And we are most anxious that Sylvia should join too.”
 
“I wish I knew her address,” said Audrey. “She is such a mystery! Mother is rather disturbed about her. I am afraid, Arthur, we cannot have her to-night; we must manage without.—But will you 120 join us, Evelyn? Do you know anything about acting¹⁷?”
 
“I have never acted, but I have seen plays,” said Evelyn. “I am sure I can manage all right. I’ll do my best if you will give me a big part. I won’t take a little part, for it would not be suitable.”
 
Audrey colored and laughed.
 
“Well, come, anyway, and we will do our best for you,” she said. “Have you finished your breakfast? The rest of us are in my schoolroom. You have not been introduced to it yet. Come if you are ready; we are all waiting.”
 
After her miserable¹⁸ morning, Evelyn considered this an agreeable change. She had intended to go up-stairs to comfort Jasper, but really and truly Jasper must wait. She accordingly went with her cousin, and was welcomed by all the children, who pitied her and wanted to make her as much at home as possible. A couple of charades were discussed, and Evelyn was thoroughly¹⁹ satisfied with the rôle assigned her. She was a clever child enough, and had some powers of mimicry²⁰. As the different arrangements were being made she suddenly remembered something, and uttered a cry.
 
“Oh dear!” she said—“oh dear! What a pity!”
 
“What is it now, Evelyn?” asked her cousin.
 
“Why, your mother is so—I suppose I ought not to say it—your mother—I—— There! I must not say that either. Your mother——”
 
“Oh, for goodness’ sake speak out!” said Audrey. “What has poor, dear mother done?” 121
“She is sending Jasper away; she is—she ............