"Can they?" she said indifferently. "But now, Bert, I hope you've said all you want to say, for I must run back. They'll be wondering where I am, for I said I only wanted to post a letter."
"But, Prin, you'll let me see you again?" pleaded Bert.
"Now, don't be tiresome," said his sister. "How could I have a little scarecrow like you coming to the house? I'd be ashamed for the servants to know that you were my brother. And we shall soon be going back to the country. I'm to go to school again then, and afterwards I'm to learn the dressmaking, for Lady Millicent says I must be her lady's maid. But nurse says she'll not live to need a lady's maid."
"She looks ill enough," said Bert, remembering the white face he had seen. "Ah, Prin, I guess she'd gladly give up all her jewels to have your health."
"No doubt she would," said Prin; and for a moment a softer look came to her face, which, despite its youthful prettiness, had a hard, keen look. "Well, good-bye, Bert. I must not stay another minute."
Bert caught her by the arm. For a moment he could not speak, there was such a choking sensation in his throat.
"Good-bye, Prin," he said hoarsely at last. "Then you've done with me now? You'll never come back to me?"
"How can I?" she asked impatiently. "How could I live the old life? You'd better do as the lady said, get Dr. Barnardo to take you into his home."
"Ah," said Bert bitterly, "it's plain you don't want me."
And he turned from her without another word and walked away.