"And, if I am," said Flossy, with sudden anger, "whose fault is it but yours?"
Sabina shrugged her shoulders, and did not seem to think it worth while to reply. She walked to the door, and let herself out without another look or word.
She knew her way about Beechfield Hall perfectly well; and it was perhaps of set purpose that she turned down a passage that led past the nursery door. The door was open, and Master Dick was drawing a horse-and-cart up and down the smooth boards of the corridor. It was his favorite playing-place on a summer evening. He stopped short when he saw Sabina, and looked at her with observant eyes.
"This isn't your way, you know," he said, facing her gravely. "This passage leads to my room, and Enid's room, not to the kitchens; and you belong to the kitchens, don't you?"
Sabina stopped and eyed him strangely. She looked at his delicate sharp-featured little face, at his fair hair and blue eyes, at the dainty neatness of his apparel, and the costly toy which he held in his hands. Her own bold eyes softened as she looked. She half knelt down and held out her arms.
"Will you kiss me once, dearie, before I go away?"
Dick looked at her wonderingly. Then he came and put his little arms around her neck and kissed her once, twice, thrice.
"Don't cry," he said; "I didn't know you were so nice and kind. But, you see, I've only seen you in the shop."
"You won't see me in the shop any more. I'm going away," said Sabina, utterly forgetful of her promise to Mrs. Vane.
"Are you?" said Dick. "Oh, then, won't there be any more sweeties in your windows? Or will some one else sell them?"