Fan laughed at that.
“I shall not believe it until I hear it from a better source. Some people make so much out of a trifle of ordinary politeness.”
“Indeed I would not,” Fan continued seriously.
“There, you see Fanny doesn’t believe it;” said Allie West triumphantly.
“As if any one in her senses could!” Dora added.
After they went away Fan sat glancing out of the window thoughtfully.
“I allowed them to think what was not quite true,” she said slowly, “but I did not want the fact to leak out. Some very smart young woman might write to Kate and alarm her. It had better go on quietly.”
We missed Daisy ever so much. You would hardly think it among so many.
Then came a letter from Mr. Duncan, stating that he intended to follow it in time to keep the festival of baby’s christening. There were some business matters on which he wished to consult papa, and he was longing for a sight of the household, from least to greatest. Louis was much better. Mrs. Whitcomb was well and had utterly refused her first vacation. What did Fanny expect to do in such a case of insubordination? He was sorry he had proved so attractive, but it was more his misfortune than his fault, so she must not visit him too heavily with her displeasure.
We all had a good laugh over it. I arranged the guest-chamber in the morning, flowers and all, and in the afternoon went cantering round the parish, as Fan often expressed it. She had been smitten with such a passion for sewing, and the Churchills took up so much of her time that I had to visit for both. I was beginning to feel quite grave and staid with my eighteen and a half years. The fact of Fan’s having a real lover affected me in a rather curious fashion. It seemed as if the romance was to begin with her and go down. It shut me out as it were; but never having counted myself in, I did not feel much disappointed. I was to be the house-daughter. Already I could see that papa had begun to depend more upon me. He brought his gloves to be mended, and used to ask me now and then to find various little matters for him. True, mamma was much occupied with Edith. I liked the growing nearer though, the tender confidence and trust.