“Well, loosen your jacket and take off your hat. Now, what is the matter? Before we refer to pleasant things, shall we get the unpleasant ones over? What has gone wrong with you, Betty Vivian?”
“But how can you tell that anything has gone wrong?”
“I know, dear, because Miss Symes would not bring you to my private sitting-room at this hour for any other reason.”
“Well, I don’t think anything has gone wrong,” said Betty; “but Miss Symes does not quite agree with me. I will tell you, of course; I am only longing to.”
“Begin, dear, and be as brief as possible.”
“I had a headache this morning, and went to lie down,” began Betty. “Miss Symes wanted me to stay lying down until dinner-time, but afterwards she gave me leave to go out when I had been in my room for an hour. I did so. I went as far as that bit of common of yours.”
“Our ‘forest primeval’?” said Mrs. Haddo with a gracious smile.
“Oh, but it isn’t really!” said Betty.
“Some of us think it so, Betty.”