"Oh! Aren't we going to Nantes?" asked Anne, when Miss Drayton informed her of the changed plans.
"No, Anne. I've just told you, we are all going to stay in or near Paris."
"Not going there at all? ever?" the child persisted.
"I don't know; probably not." Miss Drayton was worried and this made her tone crisp and impatient.
"O—oh!" wailed Anne, her self-control giving way before the sudden disappointment. "I want to go. I want to go to Nantes."
Miss Drayton was amazed. What ailed the child? Why this passionate desire to go to Nantes, a city of which, as she owned, she had never even heard until she was told that it was their destination?
"Anne, Anne! For pity's sake!" said Miss Drayton. "Why are you so anxious to go to Nantes?"
But Anne only rocked back and forth, sobbing, "I want to go to Nantes! I want to go to Nantes!"
She had been counting the days till, according to her uncle's permission, she might tell her friends about seeing him. She felt sure they would explain the puzzling change in his appearance, and tell when she would see him again. Now, after all, they were not going to Nantes, and she must keep her secret alone, forever and forever. It was too dreadful!