Miss Rebecca Herrick read the note.
"How perfectly absurd!" she remarked as she finished it. "No doubt she has gone to those dreadful Bradys she was forever talking about. She always spoke of them as friends."
"Of course! How clever you are, Rebecca! Miss Rice, kindly tell James to go to the Bradys' and ask if she is there. He probably knows where they live. I have barely time to dress for dinner. Let me know if he brings her back." And Miss Herrick returned to her room. "No doubt she is there," she said to herself. "It is useless to become unduly alarmed before it is absolutely necessary. What a strange child she is! Perhaps Helen Redmond will understand her better than I do. I hope so, I am sure, and the sooner she is sent there the better, if she is going to behave in this way."
But Miss Herrick was more alarmed than she cared to acknowledge. She moved nervously about the room, and it was a relief to her when, as she was putting the finishing touches to her toilet, there was a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" she cried.
"It is Elizabeth," said a small voice. "May I come in, Aunt Caroline? Oh, I am so glad to get back! Thank you so much for sending James after me!"
"Do you think this is the proper way for a little girl to behave?" asked Miss Herrick, in a severe voice, although she was greatly relieved to see her niece.
"No, Aunt Caroline, I don't, and I hope you will excuse me. I—I didn't want to go to Virginia, you know, and I thought that the Bradys' would be better than that. But it isn't, Aunt Caroline. Nothing could be worse than the Bradys! I was so glad to have James come for me! They were all quarrelling, and Mr. Brady was not at all nice. He was even talking about murdering people when James knocked at the door. And I am so glad to get home! Don't you think I might stay here now, Aunt Caroline? Must I really go to Virginia?"
"Certainly you must, more so now than ever. It is nonsense for you to dread it so. There is no reason why you should not be happy there. Now run away, for I must go down to the drawing-room."
"I should have liked to kiss her," said Miss Herrick to herself, as she went down stairs. "I am growing very fond of her, with all her oddness. But I must not allow myself to care deeply again. One disappointment is enough."