The Palace Beautiful by L.T. Meade

That night, after her sisters were in bed, Primrose again sat up late -- once again she read her mother's letter; then burying her face in her hands, she sat for a long, long time lost in thought.

Jasmine and Daisy, all unconcerned and unconscious, slept overhead, but Hannah was anxious about her young mistress, and stepped into the drawing-room, and said in her kind voice --