Miss Clifford dismissed the maid-of-honour. She was sitting in her own special easy-chair, and Beth stood before her.
"My dear child," she said to Beth, "why are you always alone? Are the girls not kind to you?"
"Oh yes, thank you," Beth answered, "they are quite kind."
"Then why are you always alone?"
"I like it best."
"Are you sure," said Miss Clifford, "that the others do not shun you for some reason or other?"
"One of them wished to be my mother," Beth rejoined, "but I did not care about it."
"But you cannot be happy always alone like that," Miss Clifford observed.
Beth was silent.
Miss Clifford looked at her earnestly for a little, then she shook her head.