“I am both glad and sorry. I am glad it was not Dick, and sorry that I did him the wrong to think it could have been. But—who was it, then, Anna, if I may ask?”
“Ah! now, my dear, that would be telling. I assure you Dick would not have told grandpa if he could have got along without his assistance; and he would not even have told me, his wife, if he could have helped it. I am sure he would not like to tell any one else. Now you are not offended?”
“Offended? Oh dear, no—certainly not, Anna. Of course I see such delicate difficulties as I suppose this of Dick’s friend to be, should be kept secret from all except those immediately concerned in settling them——I wonder why that girl doesn’t bring little Lenny in?” said Drusilla, suddenly changing the subject, and going to the window to look out.
“Yes, it is time she did, indeed. I dare say she will be here with him in a few minutes,” answered Anna, very glad to have weathered the storm she had so much dreaded.
“Anna, dear, what time did Pina take little Lenny out?” inquired Drusilla, rather uneasily.
“Immediately before luncheon.”
“What time was that to-day?”
“About two o’clock.”
“And now it is after four; and she has had him out more than two hours, in the hottest part of the day, too. What could have tempted her to take the child out at this time of the day?”
“Drusa, dear, this was the way of it: Grandpa and Dick wished to explain to me the necessity of their immediate departure for Southampton. Little Lenny and his nurse were in the room. Grandpa and Dick did not want any other listener than myself, so they told Pina to take the child down to the sidewalk, thinking, of course, that so careful a nurse would keep him in the shade. So you see the girl was not to blame for taking the child out; though certainly I think she is for keeping him out so long. But still I don’t think you need be uneasy, Drusa. Pina is no strange nurse. You have known her well for three years, and she has had the care of your child for two, and has always proved herself worthy of the trust. I hope you are not uneasy about him?”