"But I haven't had a whole holiday this time. We are busy just now," said Fanny.
"Never mind, a promise is a promise, and you must come with me. Minnie can tell them at home where you are."
Fanny made a slight resistance to this plea, but it was very slight, for she was not anxious to go home, as her father had been so put out at not meeting her that fateful Sunday evening.
She sent a message to her mother that she would come in and see her on her way back to Mrs. Lloyd's, and then she kissed her sisters and joined the group of girls with Mary Taylor.
This was the girl she had decided in her own mind would succeed her at Mrs. Lloyd's, and she was surprised that she had not heard at once about this. Perhaps for some reason it had not been openly spoken of in the school; but if she went home with Mary to tea she would be sure to hear the news.
On their way to Mary's home, when the other girls had left them, she said to her friend—
"Are any more girls leaving yet, Mary?"
"No. Mother is rather disappointed, for, you know, she had my name put down for the next place that teacher heard of. Now she has written to my aunt who lives near London to look-out for me."
Fanny was puzzled. So Mrs. Lloyd had not been to Miss Martin for another maid, and she wondered whether by her carelessness she had brought her old school into such ill repute that her mistress would not have another girl from there.
It was not a pleasant thought, and she put it away from her as quickly as she could, laughing and chatting with Mary quite merrily.