“But, perhaps,” she continued, “it’s just as well you didn’t go out, for I’ve been wanting an opportunity to speak to you for some days.”
“To me?” said Anna, faintly.
“I never shrink from my duty,” went on Mrs Winn, “whether it’s unpleasant or not, and I don’t like to see other people doing so. Now, you’re only a child, and when you neglect to do what’s right, you ought to be told of it.”
Anna gazed in open-eyed alarm at her visitor. What could be coming?
“I don’t suppose you know, and, therefore, I think it my duty to tell you, that your grandfather, old Mr Goodwin, was extremely disappointed the other day when you failed to keep your promise. I hear that he waited for you until quite late.”
“Aunt Sarah wished me to go out with the Palmers,” said Anna. “Grandfather said he didn’t mind at all—”
“I knew your mother well,” proceeded Mrs Winn, rolling on her way without noticing this remark, “and a sweet, young creature she was, though she made one mistake that I always regretted. And I know Mr Goodwin, of course, and respect him, though he’s not made of the stuff that gets on in the world. Still, whatever his position is, you owe him duty and reverence; and let me tell you, young lady, there may come a time when you’ll be sorry you’ve not given it. It’s all very well, and very natural, I daresay, to enjoy frolicking about with your gay young friends now. But youth passes, and pleasure passes, and then we all have time to remember the duties we didn’t stoop to pick up when they lay at our door.”
Anna sat in sulky silence during this long speech, with her eyes cast down, and a pout on her lips. What right had Mrs Winn to scold her?
Sullen looks, however, had no sort of effect on that lady, and when she had taken breath, she proceeded to finish her lecture:
“I keep my eyes open, and my ears too, and I know very well, that though your grandfather says nothing, and is the sort of man to bear any neglect without complaint, that he feels hurt at your going so seldom to see him. And, knowing this, it was my duty to come and tell you, as there was no one else to do it. Your aunt and uncle are not intimate with him, and Delia Hunt’s too young to speak with any weight.—There’s another thing, too, I wanted to mention. Up to yesterday Mr Goodwin had received no invitation to the Palmers’ picnic.”