“Oh, I say!” exclaimed Augusta. “How downright wicked!”
“I will put it right,” said Miss Roy, trembling a little. “Leave me the groundsel. Go—please go.”
A voice below shouted Augusta’s name, and she ran off. Miss Roy attended to the suffering bird, giving him seed and water and a nice bunch of groundsel. He began to eat and drink at once, and before she left the room she had the satisfaction of seeing that he was much revived.
“I will see to this matter myself,” she said under her breath. “There must be no dumb creature in this house liable to such neglect. Alas, how little one knows any one! Mrs. Richmond may have given that bad mark for just such another act of carelessness. It seems to explain things. But who would have thought it of Nancy?”
At lunch that day Augusta suddenly looked up and fixed her bright eyes on Nancy.
“I have a crow to pluck with you,” she said.
“What is it?” asked the little girl.
“Come, Augusta,” said the Captain, “none of this! I am sure Nancy has not done anything wrong.”
“Oh, hasn’t she? You ask Miss Roy.—Miss Roy, don’t you think the little favourite wants a word of caution?”
“You ought not to call Nancy by that silly name,” said Miss Roy; but she looked uneasy and troubled.