Into Nan’s cheeks now there had come a very brilliant colour, and her eyes were large and bright. She stood still, thinking deeply. After a time she got up and left the room; she left her lesson-books behind her. She entered her bedroom and shut the door. In this tiny room Nan often battled out her troubles, and struggled hard to know what was right to be done. She felt much puzzled on this occasion. As to Augusta’s sharp words and tones of authority, she was accustomed to them by this time; she saw there was no chance of her ever getting away from her influence.
“And she is ruining me,” thought the child. “I did hope a fortnight ago that I should do better, that I should be a worthy soldier. But I must write to Uncle Peter; I cannot do right with Augusta always near. What is to be done? What is to be done? Oh, it would kill me to leave the Richmonds now! But what does this mean about the Asprays? I know what I’ll do; I’ll go down and see Mrs. Richmond, and ask her straight out to tell me the truth.”
No sooner had this resolve come to Nan than she ran downstairs.
It was Mrs. Richmond’s at-home day; callers had stayed until late, but they had all gone now. She was preparing to go upstairs to dress for dinner when Nan appeared.
“Ah, Nancy!” said the good woman. “Do you want me, darling?”
“Please, Mrs. Richmond, may I say something?” asked Nan.
“Of course you may, dear.”
Mrs. Richmond sat down and drew Nan towards her.
“Well, Nancy,” she said, “you look well; you have grown, and have got more colour in your cheeks.”
Here she bent forward and kissed Nan on her forehead.