"Thank you very much, sir," said Jane-Anne; but her voice was not joyful, as one might have expected.
She felt rather uncomfortable.
He had never questioned her as to why she wanted it.
"Are you sure it's enough?" he asked kindly.
"Quite sure, sir, and I'm very much obliged."
Mr. Wycherly looked at her curiously. Why was her voice so listless and flat?
She dropped the coins into the pocket of her dress and stood before him, rubbing one slender foot over the other, her eyes downcast, quite unlike the eager, chattering child he loved.
"Good-night, sir," said Jane-Anne.
When she reached her bedroom she felt very miserable indeed. She possessed the coveted eighteenpence and was thoroughly ashamed of having it. It had been obtained too easily and she felt that she was deceiving Mr. Wycherly. Without knowing why, she was certain he would not wholly approve of the purchase of the "Magnolia Bloom powder," and he had never asked her why she wanted the eighteen-pence. He trusted her.
Jane-Anne felt mean.