"Our behaviour! What do you mean? We have never injured her in any way! She is nothing to us!"
"But Marigold is. We are both fond of her, and—oh, Pamela, I wish you were not so unforgiving. I cannot think how, feeling as you do, you can kneel down and say the Lord's Prayer!"
Having spoken with indignant warmth, Miss Holcroft was not a little alarmed at her temerity, fearing she might have offended her sister; but Miss Pamela's face expressed nothing but astonishment; she had never received such a reproof before.
It was evening, and the sisters were alone in the drawing-room, whilst Marigold in her own room upstairs was engaged in writing her fortnightly letter to her mother. Miss Pamela's head was bent over her woolwork. In her youth it had been the fashionable employment for ladies, and she was always deeply interested in it. She had worked coverings for a suite of furniture, in bunches of flowers; indeed, traces of her handiwork were to be seen all over the house.
"I must go upstairs and fetch that blue wool I bought yesterday for these forget-me-nots," she remarked presently, as she rose and laid her work on a table.
Miss Holcroft looked after her retreating figure anxiously.
"I do hope I have not offended her," she murmured, with a sigh.
But Miss Pamela was not offended, nor was she even angry.
"I cannot think how, feeling as you do, you can kneel down and say the Lord's Prayer!" her sister had said, and the words rang in her ears as she went slowly upstairs. Passing Marigold's room she paused and glanced in, for the door was standing wide open. The little girl, clad in a blue serge skirt and a cotton blouse, was bending over the writing-table, so engrossed in her occupation that she never heard her aunt's footsteps, and looked up with a start as Miss Pamela laid a light hand upon her shoulder. Marigold blushed with surprise, and jumping up, placed a chair for her aunt, who sat down, glancing round the room as she did so, to see if it was in good order. Fortunately, everything was in its place, and Miss Pamela noted the fact with an approving smile.
"You are improving, Marigold," she said. "I have not had to complain of your untidiness lately, I am pleased to say."