"Well, Fanny seems to think that she is to have every new frock, and she does not like it because this last one was sent for Eliza and not for her," answered Mrs. Brown.
It was some time before peace was restored; but as soon as tea was over Eliza had to go to the Vicarage, and later on, when Fanny was getting ready to go back, her mother said—
"Now, Fanny, as you walk home, tell your father all about that watch you bought. I have not said a word to him because I want you to do it!"
Fanny frowned.
[CHAPTER IV]
JESSIE COLLINS
MRS. BROWN watched rather anxiously for her husband's return, hoping that Fanny would tell him all about the foolish purchase she had made, and show her father the watch, if she had it with her. "Ten shillings is a lot of money for a girl to waste," she said, half aloud, as she went to the door to look down the street, for the house seemed very lonely without Eliza. She had not missed Fanny so much, but a dreary emptiness seemed to pervade the whole house because Eliza was not there, and she was glad to stand at the door and say "Good night" to the few neighbours who passed.
At length one of them stopped at the gate and said—
"Isn't it a shocking thing about Mrs. Collins?"
"Why, what has happened?" asked Mrs. Brown.