Till now Dorothea had been hearing about the whooping-cough, and asking all about the diamond brooch losing. She had known about it, for father had written to Mr. Chasserton to ask if Cousin Dorothea could possibly throw any light upon it,—had she noticed it on their way home, or had she only noticed it going there, or when?—but she hadn't been able to remember anything at all.
She was sorry about it; she's very sweet, very sweet indeed, and nice to tell troubles to; she looks so sorry with her kind blue eyes, though I don't think she's a very clever girl.
'I feel quite guilty about it all,' she said; 'for it was for my sake you went to that unlucky Drawing-room, and that all these troubles came. But what was the new one you were going to tell me about, dear Valeria?'
'Oh, that isn't exactly a trouble, only a difficulty,' said mums. And she went on to explain about the change to the country and my idea of a farmhouse.
Cousin Dorothea listened, and tried to look very wise.
'I'm afraid nowhere near my home would be any good,' she said. 'Devonshire's not bracing at all.'
Suddenly a thought jumped into my head.
'That nice woman,' I said, 'the one who gave you the cup, is it bracing where she lives?'
Dorothea gave a little jump.
'Oh,' she said, 'she'd be the very person to take care of the children if she had rooms, and if her husband would let her take lodgers, and if the place is bracing, and if I could remember where it is!'