Fanny pouted and looked sullen. "I can do that," she said. "The lady only wants to know if I can go to her in a fortnight. Her name is Lewis, and she lives at 16, Mortimer Street," she suddenly added, apparently fearing that Mrs. Lloyd would decline to let her leave at the fortnight if she refused to give the address.
"Very well. I will let you know this evening whether I can spare you in a fortnight. Now set the dinner-table; I am going out this afternoon."
Fanny wondered whether her mistress was going to see Miss Martin to ask if she had another girl in the school who could take her place, and what her mother would say when she heard she was going to leave.
Well, it would save her the bother of telling the story herself, she thought, as she took off her things and put on her cap and apron.
She noticed that Mrs. Lloyd did not sit long over her dinner to-day, and this confirmed her suspicion that she was going to the school, for that was a long walk from this end of the town, and there were no tramcars running in that direction. So, when the lady came back about five o'clock looking rather tired, Fanny felt sure she knew all that had happened while she was out, and she would find out who was coming in her place if she could.
But, in point of fact, Mrs. Lloyd's visitor of the day before had told her that if she wanted to make a change, she could recommend a girl about Fanny's age, who, she felt sure, would give satisfaction. But before telegraphing to this friend to engage the girl to come to her, she resolved to make some inquiries about the place and people Fanny had told her of.
Of course it was rather a delicate undertaking, for apparently Mrs. Lloyd had no sufficient reason for asking the questions she did.
But from the information thus gained, she judged that there were several children, and that Fanny might not find it a very easy place; but there was nothing to justify her in refusing to let her go there, she decided, and a little more hard work would not hurt Fanny, and might teach her a useful lesson of contentment.
Just as the tea-things were placed on the table a telegram came for Mrs. Lloyd, announcing that the girl could come at the time named, which removed the last difficulty concerning Fanny going to the new place; and so, when she came to clear the tea-things, Mrs. Lloyd said—
"I shall be able to spare you, Fanny, at the end of a fortnight; but as you will be leaving so soon, and must give each room in turn a good clean before you go, I shall not be able to spare you for a whole day's holiday next week, but will let you go home to tea one day to tell your mother about your new place."