"Did you give my message to Mrs. Linchmore?" asked Frances, "I almost hope you did not, as I am so much better. I intend after all going down to dinner."
There had been a long silence, uninterrupted save by the noise the brush made as it passed through the soft dark hair.
"Yes Miss, I did, and they all said they were sorry to hear you had such a bad head-ache."
"All!" exclaimed Frances, "I desired you to give the message to Mrs. Linchmore. Why did you disobey me?"
"Well, Miss, I'm sure it was no fault of mine that Miss Neville happened to be in the room."
"Miss Neville!" exclaimed Frances.
"Yes, Miss Frances, I thought it would surprise you, but I know it was her, because I saw her through a chink of the door as Mason held it open; besides Mason says she is always there, trying to butter her bread, as the saying is; and after I'd given the message, which I should not have given if I'd known she had been there, I heard her and Mrs. Linchmore say they thought you was a very perverse and disagreeable girl; of course they didn't know I was so near, or they wouldn't have spoke so loud."
"And how dare Miss Neville have a word to say in the matter concerning any affairs of mine!" said Frances, thrown off her guard by the suddenness of Jane's announcement, and drawing her head up proudly, so as to almost drag her hair through Jane's fingers, and totally disarrange the long silken plait she had just completed.
"Law! Miss! I'm sure I can't say," replied Jane somewhat surprised in her turn at the extraordinary emotion she witnessed, and delighted that so far she had succeeded beyond her hopes.