Isabelle had amazed and interested her, and Wally had offered her what seemed a fabulous salary. No wonder she had seized the opportunity, with happy plans of sending the first check home, intact. But daily for the first week, amidst the undreamed-of luxuries of The Beeches she felt that she must run away, back to the things she knew and understood. And yet every day brought her evidences of Isabelle’s need of her, and Ann’s intrinsic sense of fairness made her feel that somebody ought to stand by the child.
Her first interview with Mrs. Bryce did not occur until the second day after her arrival. She waited to be summoned all of the first day, but heard nothing, saw nothing of her new employer. The second day she sent word asking for a conference. She was given an audience while Mrs. Bryce’s maid was dressing her to go out to lunch. She nodded casually to Ann.
“You wanted to see me?”
“Yes; I—I thought we would better talk over your plans for Isabelle.”
“I haven’t any plans for her. My only desire is to keep her out of the way.”
“But I don’t know what she is permitted to do,” Ann began.
“She is permitted to do anything she wants to,” laughed Mrs. Bryce.
“But that isn’t good for her”—earnestly.
Mrs. Bryce’s glance at the girl was full of scornful amusement.