“This is the story, dear Nan, the details of which will not interest you much, only as they affect our financial situation. We are greatly in Mr. Andrew Blake’s debt at the present time. Your father is writing by this mail to the lawyer in Tillbury to raise money on our little home by a mortgage to pay these debts and to pay your school bills for the remainder of the year.
“This holding up of our fortune is only temporary, I am sure. I am trusting in our Father’s goodness still. I will not be alarmed. But the delay worries your poor papa very much. Our friends here are very kind to us, and Mr. Andrew Blake urges us to accept his financial aid again; but Papa Sherwood can be, you know, the most stubborn of men when he wants to be.”
There was more of the letter—intimate, tender passages that Nan could have shown to nobody. Her mother’s heart was opened wide to the girl, as it always was when they were together. “Momsey” and she had been much more intimate than mothers and little daughters usually are. Mrs. Sherwood now confided in Nan as she would have done had they been at home together.
The hour darkened, and Nan could no longer see to read as she sat by the window. She put the letter away and bathed her eyes and face before turning on the light.
In fact, she was still in the dark when Bess came romping in. Nan seemed no more quiet to Bess than she had for several days.
“I declare!” cried Bess. “I’d just as soon room with a funeral mute, as with a girl who won’t talk. You’re the limit, Nan Sherwood!” and she went off to join some of the girls who were under no ban of silence.
CHAPTER XXV
RUMOR BLOWS ABOUT
Bess Harley was not at all a heartless girl; and she really loved Nan devotedly. But she could not understand just why her chum was so particular in her honorable observance of the sentence of silence. Nor did she know anything about the very upsetting letter Nan had received from Scotland. Finding Nan far from gay on this particular evening, and being fond of bustle and excitement herself, Bess deserted Number Seven, Corridor Four, and found amusement in the companionship of other girls who could talk.
Nan was unhappy; yet she was glad to be left to herself. She faithfully prepared her tasks for the next day, and then put out the light and sat by the window, looking out into the starlit night.