Lilian watched her as she stepped into the phæton, with its handsome bays and the silver mountings. And Zaidee could have every wish gratified; friends, music, travel. It was there for her, also. She had never dreamed of that.
CHAPTER XIII
A MOTHER’S LOVE
Mrs. Boyd had not stirred. Lilian bent over her and found the breathing very faint. Miss Arran sat by the window and merely glanced up. The girl buried her face in the pillow and heard again the soft, finely modulated voice, the clasp of the hand that meant so much, the promise for tomorrow.
“If they were not so rich,” her musings ran, “If I could do something for her. Oh, it seems too much. If we could go away—but to face all the girls, to hear the comments.”
“Miss Boyd, can you spare me a few moments,” said Mrs. Dane. “Mrs. Arran will watch.”
Lilian followed to Mrs. Dane’s room.
“Miss Boyd, I have an apology to make to you, and I am honest enough to confess it. I can’t just tell why, but I did take a dislike to you and your mother. She seemed very weak and as if she was afraid a baleful secret might come to light, and you were the master mind holding some curious power over her.”