Helen immediately wheeled round, and walked indignantly homewards, too full of her own feelings to make any attempt to persuade Katherine to follow her example, and every step shewing how grieved and affronted she was.
Lucy laid her hand on her sister's arm, and looked up imploringly in her face.
'Pooh!' said Harriet pettishly, jerking the ribbon by which she was leading Fido: 'give me one reason, Lucy, and I will come.'
'What Helen said,' answered Lucy.
'Stuff and nonsense!' said Harriet; 'that was no reason at all.'
'What did Helen say?' asked Anne, who had been rather startled by her departure.
'Only some Dykelands fancies about Socialists,' said Elizabeth; 'that is the reason she has gone off like a tragedy queen. I did not think all Abbeychurch was ready for the French Revolution—that was all.'
'There, Lucy, you see,' said Harriet; 'come along, there's a good girl.'
Here Mrs. Turner's page opened the door, and answered that his mistress was at home.
'Dora, my dear,' said Elizabeth, 'this is too late an affair for you; we shall not be at home till after you are gone to bed. Good-night—run after Helen.'