[CHAPTER XX]
Felicia in Trouble
"CHILDREN, here comes your grandfather," said Mrs. Pring, a welcoming smile lighting up her pleasant face, as, from her seat under a big apple tree in the kitchen garden, where she and her little daughters were passing the afternoon, she lifted her eyes from the tea-cups—set on the small table at her side—into which she was pouring tea from a pretty china teapot, and saw Mr. Renford's approaching figure.
"Oh, how delightful!" exclaimed Molly. "He's just in time for a cup of tea." She ran to meet her grandfather, and clinging affectionately to his arm, led him under the shade of the apple tree, where she placed him by her mother's side. "Why didn't you bring Felicia with you?" she inquired.
"I had no intention of coming here when I left home; besides, Felicia is spending the afternoon with Guy," he returned. "How very comfortable this is!"
"Yes," agreed his daughter; "so we determined we would have tea out-of-doors. We cannot expect this fine weather to continue much longer, but I hope it will last whilst Miss Barton is away."
"Grandfather, do you know that Miss Barton is going to call on Felicia's friend, Mrs. M'Cosh, whilst she is in Bristol?" asked Molly.
"No. Is that so?"
"Yes," assented Mrs. Pring. "It was Miss Barton's own idea, but I furthered it. I—I hope you do not mind?" she questioned somewhat falteringly, as she noticed the gravity of her father's face.
"No, I do not mind. I suppose it is only natural, under the circumstances, that Felicia should be attached to the woman; but—well, to put it plainly, has it ever occurred to you that Felicia has a decided leaning towards the society of—of people of the lower classes?"