Mrs. Brown could not repress a shudder as she took it.
"You did quite right, Minnie," she said, in spite of the shiver that went through her. "Come in, dear, and we will see what news this brings."
Minnie watched her mother's face as she tore open the large envelope; but that and a sheet of blue paper fell to the ground unheeded as Mrs. Brown saw another letter, in another handwriting, folded inside the official letter. The writing was weak and shaky, as though the writer was ill, and the colour left Mrs. Brown's face, and Minnie feared her mother was going to fall out of the chair, as she cried out—
"My child, my Fanny, my darling!"
"What is it, mother? What is it?" asked Minnie, putting her arms round her mother's neck, and looking down at the letter in her hand. "Is it from Fanny?" she asked, with a gasp, for the handwriting was strangely like her sister's.
Her mother nodded and smiled, and then the tears came into her eyes, and it was some minutes before either of them could read the letter through, although it was a very short one.
"Dearest Mother," she wrote, "Nurse has just told me that I may try and write a letter to you. I have been ill for a long time, and I dare say you have wondered where I was. I have been a naughty girl, I know now, for I left my place where I was comfortable and went to one where I caught the fever, and had to come to the hospital. I am afraid it has been a great deal of trouble to you, for I know you love me, although I have been so naughty, and do not deserve it. But you will forgive me and send me a letter soon to tell me you have not forgotten me, although I have not heard from you for such a long time."
Mrs. Brown and Minnie read this letter, though it is doubtful whether either of them understood much beyond the wonderful fact that Fanny was not dead, after all.
"Mother, how is it there was such a mistake about Fanny?" said Minnie, at last; and as she spoke she picked up the official letter and envelope from the floor.
In this letter it was explained that two girls of the same name were admitted to the hospital on the same day, and by some mischance the one who had died was supposed to be the one who was surviving; but to make sure that there was now no error, the survivor had been asked to write a few lines to her friends, and give their address, now that she was a little better and in the full possession of her faculties. An answer was asked to be returned, giving the full name, age, and address of the girl whom they claimed as their daughter. A letter might also be sent to the patient, but at present no visitors could be allowed to see her, although she would soon be well enough to be sent to a convalescent home.