“Miss Barnes explained to me on the way home, that she and Isabelle have a game called ‘Playing Jinny.’ Jinny is Miss Barnes’s little sister and Isabelle pretends that she lives in the Barnes family.”
“So, it is your paragon who has set her against her own parents.”
“No, she didn’t mean to do that. She says she had no idea that the child would take it seriously and start off to find the Barnes home.”
“Do you think it desirable to have your child in the sole charge of a woman who poisons her mind against you and me?”
“But she doesn’t do that, Max. Isabelle adores her. It was just a game, I tell you.”
“So she says.”
On the way to the library, after dinner, they came upon Ann in the hall.
“May I speak to you, Miss Barnes?” Max inquired coolly.
“Certainly,” the girl replied, and followed them into the room beyond.