“If you can assure me she is not in pain I will not go to her till after tea,” said Mrs. Richmond; “I am rather tired, having had a lot of running about this morning. But what a pity the poor child never told me of this! How strange of Miss Roy to have gone off without her!”
“I know nothing about that, of course,” replied Augusta. “But tell me about her, Aunt Jessie. Is she any relation? Does she live here now? I never heard of her before.”
“She does live here, Augusta, and I hope she will continue to do so.”
“How mysterious you look, Aunt Jessie! Is there any story about her?”
“In one sense there is, Augusta; but I do not care to talk about it. The dear child is a great pleasure to me. We all love her very much.”
“But do tell me, please, Aunt Jessie—do. I so love to hear anything mysterious!”
“There is nothing mysterious, darling; but perhaps, as you have asked me, I may as well tell. Nan is the dear little daughter of a great friend of mine, a Mrs. Esterleigh, who died about three months ago. At her death Nan came here.”
“Oh!” said Augusta.
She was silent for a minute, thinking.
“And is she no relation?” she asked then.