'Helena, I don't mean to be rude, for of course it's no business of mine, but I think you must know that you are talking nonsense. I don't mean about Mr. Vandeleur, or any one but your grandmother; but as for saying that she has left off caring for you, that's all—perfectly impossible. I know enough for that; you've been with her all your life, and she's been most awfully good to you——'
'I know she has,' I interrupted, 'that makes it all the worse to bear.'
'We'll talk about that afterwards,' said Harry, 'it's your grandmother you should think of now—what do you mean to do?'
I stared at him, not quite understanding.
'I meant to stay here,' I said, 'with Kezia. If I can't—if you count it your house and won't let me stay, I must go somewhere else. But you can't stop my staying here till I've seen Kezia.'
Harry gave an impatient exclamation.
'Can't you understand,' he said, 'that I meant what are you going to do about letting your grandmother know where you are?'
'I hadn't thought about it,' I said; 'perhaps they won't find out till to-morrow morning.'
And then in my indignation I went on to tell him about the lonely life I had had lately, ending up with an account of my fall down the stairs and what I had overheard about being sent away to school.
'Poor Helena,' said Lindsay.