"Ah yes!" Kathleen said. "And this is your granddaughter?"
"My granddarter her be," said Mrs. Hanson sternly.
"And of course you need her here to help you in this little cottage?" Kathleen hazarded.
"I du not need she, my Lady, and her be going to leave me, her be, this very day!"
"To—to leave—you—you mean the child is going away? Where is she going to?"
Mrs. Hanson did not answer. The girl was still in the room, seemingly busy at the dresser, but Kathleen looking could see the slender shoulders shake and knew what a big fight the little maid was putting up to keep herself from bursting into tears.
What little village tragedy was here? she wondered.
"Is she going to London?" Kathleen asked.
"I du not know, my Lady!"
"But——" Kathleen said.