Faith coloured up, but said nothing. She could never argue, and found it wisest to be silent.
But she was not sorry that she had sent Mrs. Cox that postscript.
[CHAPTER XII]
THE ACCIDENT
THE Hall was closed for two months. Sir George and Lady Melville had taken their boys to Scotland, so the little girls were shut up entirely to Charlie for society. They quarrelled with him occasionally. Once he went off and stayed away from them for a whole week. But he found he missed them quite as much as they missed him, and on the whole they were very good friends.
One afternoon they were all playing in the orchard when they saw the Pirate ride up to the cottage, tie up his horse and go inside.
He very often called now; sometimes he brought Granny fruit; sometimes he said he came to ask Aunt Alice's advice on some knotty point. He did not always ask to see the little girls, so they went on with their games. Presently Faith was called. She ran in and was met by her aunt with a very grave face.
"Faith, Mr. Cardwell wants you to go back with him. His father is taken very ill and wants to see you."
Faith looked almost frightened:
"Oh, how dreadful, Aunt Alice! Does he want me to nurse him?"