"And what did he say?" Dorothy was struck quite dumb. "Is there anything wrong?" And now, as Miss Stanbury asked the question, she seemed herself to have forgotten that she had two minutes before declared herself to be almost too feeble to speak. "I'm sure there is something wrong. What is it? I will know."
"There is nothing wrong, Aunt Stanbury."
"Where is the letter? Let me see it."
"I mean there is nothing wrong about him."
"What is it, then?"
"He is quite well, Aunt Stanbury."
"Shew me the letter. I will see the letter. I know that there is something the matter. Do you mean to say you won't shew me Brooke's letter?"
There was a moment's pause before Dorothy answered. "I will shew you his letter;—though I am sure he didn't mean that I should shew it to anyone."
"He hasn't written evil of me?"
"No; no; no. He would sooner cut his hand off than say a word bad of you. He never says or writes anything bad of anybody. But—. Oh, aunt; I'll tell you everything. I should have told you before, only that you were ill."