"What is it, Minnie? What is the matter?" she asked.
"I hardly know, mother; but a lady is coming to see you. It is Fanny's mistress, I think. Teacher sent me with her to show her the way, and I asked her to let me run on and tell you she was coming."
"There! That is her knock, I am sure!" said Minnie; and she ran to the front-door to admit Mrs. Lloyd, and show her into the almost bare sitting-room.
Her mother followed almost immediately, and she guessed at once that the trouble, whatever it might be, concerned Fanny. She had seen Mrs. Lloyd once before, and she said, as she entered the room—
"You have come about my daughter, ma'am? Is she ill? How long has she been ill?"
Mrs. Lloyd looked surprised at the question. "Surely you have heard that your daughter left my service three weeks ago?" she said.
"Fanny left her place!" uttered Mrs. Brown, in amazement.
"I am sorry to say she did. She left me with only a fortnight's notice, that she might 'better herself,' as so many girls do. Before she went, I sent her home to tell you all about it, and where she was going."
"She never came," murmured Mrs. Brown, through her pale lips, for she felt the worst had not been told yet.
"Yes, mother, Fanny came one afternoon. Don't you remember she said they were busy, and she could not have a proper holiday that day?"