"She does not know you are coming yet," Denys said. "Mademoiselle Thérèse got your telegram, but said it would be better not to tell your niece in case the ship went down on the way!"
"What a cheerful person to live with!" Miss Britton ejaculated. "I'm afraid I may be very rude to her."
"I hope not," Mr. Morton said. "It would do no good, and she seems to be an excellent lady in many ways."
"We shall see!" Miss Britton replied grimly, getting out of the fiacre; and Denys felt rather sorry for Mademoiselle Thérèse.
But Miss Britton was often worse in imagination than in reality, and she behaved with all due politeness to both the sisters, who met her at the door, and led her into the salon. She even bore a certain amount of Mademoiselle Thérèse's explanations with patience, then she got up.
"Well, well, I would rather hear all that afterwards, mademoiselle, and if I may just take off my hat and coat I will go straight up to my niece. I had breakfast on board."
A few minutes later Aunt Anne opened Barbara's door and entered, a little doubtful lest her sudden appearance might not be bad for her niece, but thinking it could not be much worse than a preparation "by that foolish woman."
Barbara was lying with her back to the door, but something different in the step made her turn round, and she sprang up in bed.
"Aunt Anne! Aunt Anne!" and dropping her face into the pillow began to cry.
Aunt Anne stood a moment in doubt. It was such a rare thing to see any of "the family" cry that she was startled—but not for long; then she crossed the room and began to comfort her niece.