Part 11 (2/2)

”No, we won't do that,” she said. ”If the Grange were our own place we would. We'll just go and sit on the terrace and watch for them.”

”Won't Kitty jump when she sees us?” said Boris, a look of satisfaction radiating all over his face. ”She'll see that we have had our lark as well as the rest of them; oh, I call it real spiffin' fine.”

They were walking rapidly through the shrubbery now, and as Boris finished his speech they came out on the broad sweep in front of the house.

Just before the entrance a brougham was standing, and instead of solitude they found themselves surrounded by familiar figures.

Kitty was the first to observe them. She gave a stifled sort of scream, and pus.h.i.+ng aside Boris, who was prepared to rush into her arms, came up to Annie, took one of her hands, and looked into her face.

”I kept the secret true as true,” she said; ”but it almost killed me, and it has nearly quite killed Nora.” Her poor little voice broke with these last words, and she burst into the frantic sobs which she had bravely kept back until now.

”What in the world is the matter?” said Annie, kneeling down and putting her arm round the excited child.

”Why, that's Dr. Jervis's carriage,” shouted Boris. ”What can be up?”

”Why are you back so early from the picnic?” asked Nell.

But Kitty sobbed on unable to reply.

She felt the comfort of Annie's arms round her, and presently she laid her hot, flushed, little face on Annie's neck and wetted her frill with her plentiful tears, but no information could be got at present from poor Kitty's lips.

”There's Molly, and there's Hester,” exclaimed Boris, ”they'll tell us; oh, and there's Nan, too. Hullo Nan, come here and tell us what the rumpus is about.”

Nan rushed up excitedly.

”Nora is nearly killed,” she said; ”she fell from a tree over twenty feet from the ground, and her back is hurt awfully, and Hester said she'd better come here, and she's lying in the library and Dr. Jervis is there. I haven't the faintest idea how it happened,” continued Nan; ”only it seems to be your fault, Annie; it seems to have something to do with you and a secret, only Kitty won't tell.”

Kitty ceased to cry; she raised her face and looked at Annie. Annie struggled to her feet.

She was about to reply to Nan when Hester came up and spoke to her.

”Oh, Annie,” she said, ”where have you been all day? We have been dreadfully anxious about you; and poor Nora has been hurt, and Kitty seems in trouble of some sort, and says that she won't tell her secret.

What can it all mean?”

”Well, really!” said Annie. She paused a minute; the rich colour mantled her cheeks; her bright eyes seemed to flash fire.

”I'm awfully sorry about Nora,” she said; ”but I fail to see how I am to blame. From your manner, Nan, and yours, Hester, I seem to be accused of something. What is it, pray?”

”Oh, it's nothing, indeed,” said Molly, who had come up now and joined Hester. ”What does it matter, Hetty, when we are all so awfully wretched? Poor Annie did not mean anything. Do let her alone!”

”I did not mean anything?” echoed Annie. ”I'm afraid I can't allow myself to be let alone. I must find out what I'm accused of. Kitty, you say you kept my secret safely. Speak now and tell everybody.”

”I can't stay to listen,” said Molly, turning away; ”it's too--too trivial!”

Hester and Nan, however, still stood facing Annie, and the boys, Guy and Harry, also came and joined the group.

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