"Why?" asked Molly; "of course, if this Mrs. M'Cosh was kind to Felicia, grandfather would feel grateful to her, wouldn't he, Miss Barton?"
"I should think so," the governess agreed, joining in the conversation for the first time.
"I should think not, judging from what I know of him," Doris persisted; "I should think he would want Felicia to have nothing more to do with her, if she is only a common woman. Why, he would have taken Felicia away from her own mother altogether—"
She paused, looking a little frightened, for she had said more than she had intended, and her eyes fell guiltily beneath Miss Barton's reproachful gaze. The fact was she was daily growing more and more jealous of Felicia, who she feared would have pleasures which would be denied to Molly and herself. She was jealous, not only because her grandfather had driven Felicia to T—, but because the little girl had dined with him afterwards. Neither she nor Molly had ever dined at the Priory in their lives. Then, too, she was jealous of Uncle Guy's showing a preference for Felicia's society; and because, in short, the cousin who she had really pitied, though, truth to tell, she had rather despised her by reason of her mother's lowly birth, appeared likely to become a general favourite.
"I don't believe grandfather would have taken her away from her mother really," said Molly; "that is, not against her mother's wish. Grandfather never means to be unkind, I'm sure. What's the matter with you, Doris? You're evidently very cross, and you don't know how ugly you look when you're in a bad temper."
"Hush, Molly!" chided Miss Barton; "don't try to tease your sister, my dear."
"Then Doris mustn't be nasty," Molly returned, glancing anxiously at Felicia who was looking much distressed. "I think if anyone had been kind to me I should be grateful—even if she was a mason's wife. But I daresay Doris wouldn't, for she's a bit of a snob at heart."
"Molly," flashed out Doris, "how dare you say so!"
"Molly, Molly, I will not have you speak of your sister in that way," Miss Barton said sternly.
"Well, it's true what I've said," Molly declared; "Doris wouldn't make a friend of anyone who doesn't live in a nice house, and—"