"Ah! I see—you're right, my child. Ann Packet will have no fear about accompanying us. And she'll make a much handier servant than a Zulu Kaffir."
"And we'll go away quietly," said Mattie again.
"Yes my dear, if you wish it. I object to anything in the dark, but as it's for your sake—I promise."
"Thank you," whispered Mattie.
Whilst Mattie was writing a letter to Harriet Wesden, as she had promised Maurice Hinchford—Mr. Gray broke the news to Ann Packet, and impressed secrecy upon her. Ann Packet was asked to state her wishes, and Mattie looked up from her desk and smiled at the old faithful servant.
"Anywhere's you like," said Ann, without a moment's hesitation; "black men or brown men—I suppose they're one or tother there—won't matter anythink to me. I'm too old to care about the colour on 'em. And, Miss Mattie"—she always called our heroine Miss Mattie in Mr. Gray's presence—"whilst you're at your desk, do'ee give notice at my bank about my money."
"Plenty of time, Ann," said Mr. Gray; "we shan't leave here for two months yet, at least."
"Then give 'em two months' notice," was Ann's rejoinder. "There's thirty-seven pounds nine and sevenpence halfpenny in there, and they may as well be told to get it ready for me. If they've been a speccilating with it, it'll give 'em time to call it in."