“Yes, miss, always,” said Maria.
“And I always will be, and so will my sister.”
“That means half a sovereign, ’Ria,” said Saxa merrily. “Don’t you let her put you off with a paltry half crown.”
“Then tell me what you mean.”
“Oh, I couldn’t, miss; I couldn’t, indeed.”
“Then there is something,” said Dana, “and—you shall tell me,” she cried fiercely, as, in an Amazonlike fashion, she gripped the woman’s arm. “Now then, you tell me. It’s something about the nurse and—”
“Miss Dana, please don’t. I’m so weak still,” pleaded Maria.
“There, you as good as owned to it. What is it?”
“It’s nothing, miss. I only sus— fancied something.”
“Then speak out,” cried Dana, sharply. “I will know before you go out of this room. Then it was them I saw across the park,” she exclaimed excitedly.