She gasped, and looked at the other.
‘DEAREST GILLIAN—After all you have heard about Frank, perhaps you will know that I am very happy. You cannot guess how happy, and it is so delightful that mamma is charmed with him. He has got two medals and three clasps. There are so many to write to, I can only give my poor darling this little word. She will find it is only having another to be as fond of her as her old Alley.’
Gillian looked up in a bewildered state, and gasped ‘Both!’
Aunt Jane could not help smiling a little, and saying, ‘Yes, both at one fell swoop.’
‘It’s dreadful,’ said Gillian.
‘My dear, if you want to keep your sisters to yourself, you should not let them go to India, said Aunt Ada.
‘They said they wouldn’t! They were quite angry at the notion of being so commonplace,’ said Gillian.
‘Oh, no one knows till her time comes!’ said Aunt Jane.
Gillian now applied herself to her mother’s letter, which was also short.
‘MY DEAREST GILLYFLOWER—I know this will be a great blow to you, as indeed it was to me; but we must not be selfish, and must remember that the sisters’ happiness and welfare is the great point. I wish I could write to you more at length; but time will not let me, scattered as are all my poor flock at home. So I must leave you to learn the bare public facts from Aunt Jane, and only say my especial private words to you. You are used to being brevet eldest daughter to me, now you will have to be so to papa, who is mending fast, but, I think, will come home with me. Isn’t that news?