She did not return to the Villa Firenze that night, nor did Irene take her into the schoolroom that day. She read to her, and amused her by dressing a doll and teaching her how to crochet a little frock for it.
Early the next morning Canon Percival arrived, and Dorothy was taken by him to see her mother.
As they were walking up the road together, Dorothy said,—
"Uncle Crannie, do you know all, all that happened on New Year's Day?"
"Yes, Dorothy; I have heard all."
"Oh, Uncle Crannie, to think of Baby Bob's taking my letter to you beginning all the trouble!"
"Nay, my little Dorothy, it was not Baby Bob who began the trouble; it was you. We must never shift the blame from our own shoulders, and say, if he had not said that, or she had not provoked me, I should not have done what I did."
"But it was tiresome to squeeze up your letter, which I had taken such pains to write."
"Yes, very tiresome; but that does not alter your fault."
"Oh, Uncle Crannie, Uncle Crannie! I wish I had not run off; but then I thought I saw Nino."