"You will come with me, Beryl?" she said, turning with an appealing look to her adopted sister.
Beryl was quite ready to accompany her; but the servant interposed. "Mr. Hollys said that only Miss Coral was to go down," she said.
Beryl dropped Coral's hand with a look of disappointment, and poor little frightened Coral had to go alone to meet her formidable uncle.
"Oh, Miss Burton!" exclaimed Beryl, when they were alone. "Do you think Coral's uncle will want to take her away from us?"
"I cannot tell," said her governess gravely.
And Beryl felt that if her dear little sister were taken from her, she could never be happy again.
[CHAPTER XXVII]
SORROWFUL PARTINGS
BY Mr. Hollys' pressing invitation, Mr. Harvey became his guest for a time. Coral quickly lost all fear of him. His bronzed, bearded face had a kind look, and his manner to the children was gentle and winning. He could not make enough of little Coral, who reminded him so vividly of the sister he had lost, and it seemed to him that by goodness to her child he might, to some extent, make amends to his dead sister for the unkindness he now so deeply regretted.
It may be imagined what a blow it was to the children when they learned that Mr. Harvey had made up his mind to return to Australia in the following month, and that he meant to take Coral with him.