‘There’s another thing,’ said Gillian. ‘Is she to go down with me always to Casement Cottages on Sunday afternoons when I take the class?’
‘To teach or to learn?’ ironically exclaimed Aunt Jane.
‘Neither,’ said Gillian. ‘To chatter to Constance Hacket. They both spoke to me about it yesterday before I went home, and I believe Constance has written a note to her to ask her today! Fancy, that goose told me my sweet cousin was a dear, and that we didn’t appreciate her. Even Miss Hacket gave me quite a lecture on kindness and consideration to an orphan stranger.’
‘Not uncalled for, perhaps,’ said Aunt Jane. ‘I hope you received it in an edifying manner.’
‘Now, Aunt Jane! Well, I believe I said we were as kind as she would let us be, especially Mysie.’
Lady Merrifield here made the move to conduct her sisters to their rooms; Miss Mohun detained her when they had reached hers, and had left Adeline to rest on her sofa. The two, though very unlike, had still the habits of absolute confidential intimacy belonging to sisters next in age.
‘Lily,’ said Miss Mohun, ‘Gillian spoke of a note. Did Maurice give you any directions about this child’s correspondence?’
‘You know I did not see him. I was so much disappointed. I would give anything to have talked her over with him.’
‘I am not sure that you would have gained much. I doubt whether he knows much about her, poor fellow. But the letters?’
‘He wrote that she had been a good deal with Professor Sefton’s family, and he thought they might like to keep up their intercourse.’