Then Hope suddenly guessed.
"I believe Fairfax Melville asked her to go out with him to-day," she said. "He pulled her out of the water, you know. Charity told him she couldn't go because of lessons. I shouldn't wonder if she has done it."
"It she has, she will have to be severely punished," said Aunt Alice.
But she and Granny seemed relieved by this possibility.
Faith and Hope played with their dolls in the orchard in the afternoon, but they talked a great deal about Charity.
"Isn't she daring?" said Hope. "I wish children could do those kind of things without getting punished. It's the afterwards that's so dreadful!"
But she spoke in admiring tones, and could not understand why Faith was so distressed about it.
"She has only played truant like children do in books, only it's easier to manage if you go to school."
"But think, when she walks in and has to meet Granny and Aunt Alice," said Faith. "Why, I should be ready to die, if I had to do it."
"Oh, Charity isn't so soft as you. Perhaps she'll get Sir George to bring her back, and then Granny won't be so angry."