'To-morrow, then? You are so kind, Mrs. Rollo!and you are the only personAt three o'clock, then? and I will come in mamma's carriage. You wont speak of it?'
'I never give such promises,' said Wych Hazel.
'But'Annabella's eye went anxiously to Mrs. Coles.
'Discretion is stronger than bonds.'
'And you are very discreet?' said the girl trying to laugh. 'Well, I must trust you. But don't let any one know you are going out with me!'
The next day Mrs. Coles was engaged to luncheon with a friend and took Primrose with her. They had not returned when Miss Powder came for Hazel, and the two ladies drove off in security. It was not a day for a pleasure drive. Clouds hung low and grey; the air had been keen and raw, with snow in its course somewhere. Now it had become suspiciously milder. But neither lady was thinking of pleasure.
'You are very good, Mrs. Rollo!' said Annabella, who evidently had some difficulty in commanding herself, and was very unlike her usual statuesque manner. For she was a handsome girl, of the Madonna type, and either by temperament or for policy had long adopted a calm style to match. To-day it was broken up.'I am very much obliged to you!' she went on. 'I did not know whom to speak to, and I must get somebody to help me. And Josephine used to think so much of you; I thought she would mind you if anybody. I couldn't ask mammamamma don't know. O what shall I do?' And with this most honest cry of despair, poor Annabella broke down.
Hazel asked what was the matter? under the wild idea for a moment that Miss Powder had found her heart and then rashly broken it.
'Nobody knows' the girl began again, trying to get the better of her agitation; 'it has not come out yet; nobody suspects; and I thoughtif you could hinder it! If you cannot, there is no one that can. Mamma has no idea. And it would just kill her to know. She thinks it is all right. Poor mamma!'
'But what am I to hinder?' said Wych Hazel.