“But why not?”
“She was taken suddenly ill that afternoon, but would not send us word, lest we should wait for her and be disappointed in going. She is better now, and has taken up an idea that sea air would be of more benefit to her than the springs,” replied Juliette, reading from her uncle’s letter.
“Oh, I am sorry she will not join us. I had fallen in love with her,” exclaimed Mrs. Wylde, and her daughter echoed:
“I had, too, mamma.”
A frown crossed Juliette’s pearl-fair face, and she read on slowly:
“So I will take her away to the sea, and you can remain with Mrs. Wylde if she will have the kindness to chaperon you.”
She looked at Mrs. Wylde, and that lady said cordially:
“Your uncle ought to know that I will take great pleasure in doing that.”
“Thank you,” cried Juliette; then, crushing the letter in her hand, she said spitefully: “I believe Pansy had all that planned before, and did not mean from the first to accompany us here.”
Mrs. Wylde and Rosalind looked startled.