“How strange you are, Philippa!” exclaimed Mrs Raynsworth. “You shouldn’t have made any pressing engagement for to-morrow morning. You seemed so anxious about Evelyn!”
“So I am, mamma,” Philippa replied, “but the mere fact of my seeing her off wouldn’t do her much good.”
But Mrs Raynsworth still looked annoyed. She was feeling really anxious and concerned about her elder daughter, and was in consequence less calm than usual.
“Evelyn,” said Philippa, “do come up to bed. I’ll stay with you while you undress.”
Mrs Headfort got up slowly.
“Philippa is queer this evening,” she thought to herself. “She’s not very nice to mamma.”
“I will come down again in a few minutes,” said Philippa, as they left the room. “I only want to make sure of Evelyn taking her medicine, and to prevent her going into the nursery again to-night.—What will you do without me to look after you,” she added, turning to her sister.
“There will be no nursery for me to wander into,” said Evelyn, with a sigh, “when I feel dull or lonely, as there is here.”
Philippa turned quickly.
“But you never do feel dull or lonely—at least not lonely, here with mamma and me, surely?” she said, with a touch of reproach.