Part 2 (2/2)
”I am not glad,” repeated f.a.n.n.y.
Miss Symes was silent. She felt greatly disturbed. After a minute she said, ”f.a.n.n.y, is there anything in connection with the Vivians which, in your opinion, Mrs. Haddo ought to know?”
”I won't tell,” said f.a.n.n.y; and now her voice was full of agitation. She turned away and suddenly burst out crying.
”My dear child! my dear child! you are upset by the thought of your father's absence. Compose yourself, my love. Don't give way, f.a.n.n.y, dear. Try to have that courage that we all strive to attain at Haddo Court.”
f.a.n.n.y hastily dashed away her tears. Then she said, after a pause, ”Is it fixed that they are to come?”
”Yes, it is quite fixed.”
”Miss Symes, you took me at first by surprise, but when the Vivians arrive you will see that I shall treat them with the affection due to cousins of my own; also, that I will do my utmost to make them happy.”
”I am sure of it, my love. You are a very plucky girl!”
”And you won't tell Mrs. Haddo that I seemed distressed at the thought of their coming?”
”Do you really wish me not to tell her?”
”I do, most earnestly.”
”Now, f.a.n.n.y, I am going to trust you. Mrs. Haddo has been more or less driven into a corner over this matter. Your dear, kind father has been suddenly left in sole charge of those three young girls. He could not take them to India with him, and he had no home to offer them in this country. Mrs. Haddo, therefore, contrary to her wont, has agreed to receive them without the personal interview which she has. .h.i.therto thought essential.”
f.a.n.n.y smiled. ”Oh, can I ever forget that interview when my turn came to receive it? I was at once more frightened and more elated than I believed it possible for any girl to be. I loved Mrs. Haddo on the spot, and yet I shook before her.”
”But you don't fear her now, dear?”
”I should fear her most frightfully if I did anything wrong.”
”f.a.n.n.y, look down deep into your heart, and tell me if, in keeping something to yourself which you evidently know concerning your cousins, you are doing right or wrong.”
”I will answer your question to-morrow,” replied f.a.n.n.y. ”Now, may I go back to the others; they are waiting for me?”
”Yes, you may go, dear.”
”The Vivians come here on Monday?” said f.a.n.n.y as she rose.
”Yes, dear, on Monday. By the way, Miss Ludlow is arranging to give them the blue room, next to yours. You don't object, do you?”
”No,” said f.a.n.n.y. The next minute the girl was out of sight.
Miss Symes sat very still. What was the matter? What was f.a.n.n.y Crawford trying to conceal?
That evening Mrs. Haddo said to Miss Symes, ”You have told f.a.n.n.y that her cousins are coming?”
”Yes.”
”And how did she take it?”
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