Ladies? Bane ? it was a curious name for a house. But visiting it for the first time Ione found it a curious house. Curious, and rather frightening. They said in the village that anyone who was its mistress would lose the thing she cared for most. And its present mistress was Allegra ? Ione's sister. They had not met for two years. Appointments had been made but not kept. Visits had been postponed time and time again. There had been excuse after excuse. And then, suddenly Ione found herself not only invited but positively urged to come. To begin with she had been puzzled. But soon she was not only worried, but badly, deeply scared... Thank heavens Miss Silver was in town.