“Oh! of course not—of course not,” said Nan, frightened, and plunging into the biggest lie she had yet told. “No, no—of course not; only I like to wonder and think things out. It amuses me; I was always given that way.”
“Well,” said Kitty, “you gave me a fright. You talked as if it might be the case; and your voice was so queer and shaky! I do believe there is a mystery, but of course it is not that.”
“No, it is not that.”
“You did not go up to see Pip?”
“Of course not.”
“I am sorry I asked, for of course you would not do it, as I told you not. Nan darling, do please tell me what makes you so unhappy; please tell me. Let us forget about my little Pip. He is in his grave, poor, darling little rat, and all his troubles are over. He was so affectionate, and I was so fond of him! But he will never feel any pain ever again. And I love you, Nan; and Noney and I are wretched to think that you are so unhappy.”
“It is all right,” said Nan. “I will try not to be unhappy in the future. I have things that worry me now and then.”
“I will tell you what one of them is: you are afraid of Augusta; she has a power over you. You will be all right again when she goes away.”
“I don’t know,” said Nan; “perhaps so.”
Kitty could get nothing further out of Nan, and as it was now time to get up, she went slowly back to her own room.