“Leave Cromarty Manor! Where you’ve all lived so long—I mean your ancestors and all! Why, Mabel, you can’t do that!”
“But we’ll have to. We haven’t money enough to pay the servants—or, at least, we won’t have, soon.”
“Are you sure of all this, dear? Does Mrs. Cromarty expect to go away?”
“It’s all uncertain. We don’t know. But mother’s lawyer thinks we’d better sell or let the place. Of course we won’t sell it, but it would be almost as bad to let it. Think of strangers here!”
“I can’t think of such a thing! It seems impossible. But perhaps matters may turn out better than you think. Perhaps you won’t have to go.”
“That’s what Sinclair says—and mother. But I’m sure the worst will happen.”
“Now, Mabel, stop that! I won’t let you look on the dark side. And, anyway, you’re not to think any more about it to-night. You won’t sleep a wink if you get nervous and worried. Now put it out of your mind, and let’s talk about the croquet party to-morrow at Grace Meredith’s. How are we going over?”
“You and I are to drive in the pony cart, and the others will go in the carriage.”
“That will be lovely. Now, what shall we wear?”
Thus, tactfully, Patty led Mabel’s thoughts away from her troubles, for the time, at least, and when the two friends parted for the night, they both went healthily and happily to sleep.