The next minute it was opened by Mrs. Lewis herself.
Fanny stated her errand. The children, crowding round their mother to look at the stranger, made open comments on the "new girl's" looks.
"If you please, ma'am, Mrs. Lloyd says she can spare me to come to you this day fortnight, and if you would like to see her about my character, she will be at home any morning before eleven."
"Oh, very well. I may call if I have time," said Mrs. Lewis; and she pulled the children in as they went crowding out on the doorsteps.
Recalling this last scene as she walked homewards, Fanny did not feel quite so elated over her good fortune. Some of the gilding had been rubbed off the promised ten pounds a year. She felt disappointed too, for she had felt sure of seeing the present maid-of-all-work, and asking her a few questions concerning the place, and why she was leaving.
She walked home more soberly than when she came out, and for the first time asked herself whether she was wise in leaving Mrs. Lloyd in such a hurry. "There, it's too late to think about that now," she said to herself after a minute or two. "If I don't like the place, or the children are too tiresome, I can leave at the end of the month, and Mrs. Lloyd will give me another character, so I am not going to worry myself. Ten pounds a year is ten pounds, and I may think myself lucky to get it."
She did not tell Mrs. Lloyd a word about the children, simply saying she had told Mrs. Lewis she could have her character, but that she did not know whether she would call for it or not.
"It would be much more satisfactory in every way to come and see me, and ask a few questions," commented the lady.
Fanny tossed her head. She thought her mistress wanted to prevent her taking the place even now, and she hoped Mrs. Lewis would not have time to come and hear all Mrs. Lloyd had to say about the things she had broken and damaged since she had been there.
As she washed up the tea-things she wondered who was to be her successor—which of the girls Miss Martin would recommend, and how soon the school would hear that she was going to leave her first place in less than six months, and so forfeit the Vicar's prize. She told herself again and again that she did not care a pin about this prize; but in reality she cared very much, now she came to think about it, especially as her sister Eliza had given such satisfaction to Mrs. Parsons and the Vicar. But then, again, came the thought of the higher wages she was going to have at her new place, and that consoled her, if it did not perfectly satisfy her.