A silly, incoherent, lover's letter, but poor Laline's eyes overflowed at each line of it.
Susan waited discreetly outside the door while Miss Grahame read it, and heartily hoped the handsome, pleasant-spoken young gentleman with the beautiful blue eyes and lovely curly black hair would not be disappointed.
Presently Laline's voice came to her from within the bedroom.
"Go to Mr. Armstrong, Susan, and tell him I am very sorry but I am not well enough to see any one to-night."
A stifled sob came after the words, and Susan decided that Miss Grahame was "awful cruel," and did not deserve so fascinating a sweetheart.
"And him a young gentleman of fortune, and she only a sort of governess, too!"
This was Susan's private comment. Aloud she said timidly—
"Mr. Armstrong seems in a dreadful way about you, miss. Shall I tell him you are feeling a little better now?"
"Please tell Mr. Armstrong just what I have said and no more!"
"Fine airs she do give herself, to be sure—and her no better-looking than some other people!" Susan said to herself, as she flounced down-stairs. "It isn't everybody that admires them thin women! She isn't half as pretty as Miss Clare to my way of thinking! Miss Clare and me we have got a bit of flesh on our bones; and I've heard say that's what the men admire, and not your scrag-ends of girls!"