"The only plate you have before you at present contains eggs and bacon," exclaimed Molly. "I think I won't help the honey for a few minutes."
"This is a delightful surprise," murmured Hester; "but, dear me, it is rather strange, Mrs. Willis says she wrote to you last week, Annie, and said that she would try to give us a couple of days at the Grange on her way back to Lavender House. How was it you never mentioned it?"
There was just a pause long enough to be noticed before Annie replied.
"I did not get the letter," she said then, in a steady voice.
She hated herself the moment she had uttered the words. She felt as if she had fallen from a height, and was lying maimed and bruised, bleeding and ugly in some dismal abyss; but all the time her eyes looked bright and her face was cheerful.
Hester exclaimed, "How strange! what a pity! How could the letter have gone astray?" but other thoughts soon chased this one from her mind.
Breakfast being over the young housekeeper had much to attend to.
Nora held out her hand to Annie, who stooped down and kissed her affectionately.
"Are you really glad that she is coming?" asked Nora.
"Of course I am, Nonie; she is—" a stab went through Annie's heart—"she is my best friend."