“Well, it isn’t our duty to tell her. Let us see what happens.”
The outcome was that Annabel the next morning was ready to tell the Dean of the honor paid the college by the visit of Mr. Radcliffe. “He is willing to make researches in England regarding Lady Moulson herself, and I should not be surprised if he should found a scholarship for us. From what he said I judge that he has a large estate in England, and he seems deeply interested in Radcliffe, especially after hearing my account of things.”
Julia happened to be the girl to whom Annabel had begun to unfold her great expectations from Mr. Radcliffe.
“But haven’t you heard the true story?” she asked.
“Why, no, what do you mean? What true story?”
“Why, Polly told me, she and Clarissa.”
Annabel began to lose her usual placidity. She suspected a practical joke.
“Why, who was—that is, wasn’t he—”
“No,” replied Julia, “at least as I understand it, he wasn’t a Radcliffe. It was a test quiz, you know, for one of the college societies.”
“Then who was the man?”