“I didn’t know them very well,” said Fanny in a slightly evasive voice.
Miss Symes felt her heart sink within her. She knew Fanny Crawford well. She was the last girl to say a word against another; at the same time she was exceedingly truthful.
“Well, dear,” said Miss Symes, “your father came here yesterday in order to——”
“To see me, of course,” interrupted Fanny; “to tell me that he was going to India. Poor darling dad! It was a terrible blow!”
“Sir John came here on other business also, Fanny. He wanted to see Mrs. Haddo. You know that poor Miss Vivian is dead?”
“Oh, yes,” said Fanny. Then she added impulsively, “Betty will be in a terrible state!”
“It may be in your power to comfort her, dear.”
“To comfort Betty Vivian! What do you mean?”
“It has just been arranged between Mrs. Haddo and your father, who is now the guardian of the girls, that they are all three to come here as pupils in the school. They will arrive here on Monday. You are glad, are you not, Fan?”