Rosamund tried to speak, and made an inarticulate sound.
Bertha whirled round.
“Hallo, hallo! Why, my dear, what’s wrong?”
Her voice changed.
“Rosamund, what’s happened? Where’s Frances?”
Miss Blandflower gazed from one to the other, a puzzled smile further distorting her swollen face.
Quicker than Rosamund could find words Mrs. Tregaskis’ quick perceptions had leapt at the truth.
“Frances has gone? She’s gone to that convent?”
“Yes,” said Rosamund at last, and felt as though an immense weight had suddenly been taken from her.
“Oh, she couldn’t have been so wicked—oh, I knew nothing about it,” screamed Minnie, and collapsed on to the stairs.