Miss Phyllis waited a moment, the cold look still on her face; then she took Nan by the hand, and went across the room to where Mary was busy putting bonnet frames into a drawer.
"My little cousin is going away from Bromfield," she said, smiling, but speaking in the very chilliest tone. "Perhaps you had better say 'good-by' to her now. She is going to live with her aunt at Beverley."
Poor Mary stared at the beautiful young lady, and said nothing for a moment; then she stooped down and kissed Nan's little red check heartily.
"Well, good-luck go with you, Nannie dear," she said; and half understanding the impression Miss Rolf wished to make, she added, looking up with a sad smile, "I suppose it won't do to expect you to remember us any more, but Tommy'll miss you dreadfully."
"I'll write him a letter, Mary," Nan exclaimed, and seeing Miss Rolf's look of surprise turn to something like disgust, she added, "Tommy is Mary's lame little brother."
Miss Phyllis said nothing, but led the way back to the hats, and Nan, unable to restrain herself further, whispered, "Miss Rolf, Cousin Phyllis, why did you say I was going to live at Beverley, when it is only a visit?"
Miss Phyllis bit her lip angrily. "Never mind," was all she answered; and then the brown felt hat was chosen, and the purchases went on—gloves, and boots, and some dainty under-linen, and various small belongings, until finally all that remained on Miss Phyllis's list was a dressing-case and a trunk. Nan hardly knew which of the beautiful cases to choose when her cousin left it to her; but finally a black leather one with silver fastenings was selected, and Miss Phyllis directed the shopman to have Nan's initials, A. B. R., put on it in little silver letters.
By this time Nan, in her new brown suit, with her hands in three-button kid gloves, had begun to think she never, never could do justice to the day, to Philip and Marian, and yet a something had stolen over her of half dread to going back to the shop. Already she dreaded her aunt's voice; the noisy, greasy tea table, where only Philip made things endurable for her; so that when, as they left the last store, loading the carriage with parcels, and Miss Phyllis said, "I'm going to keep you for the night, Nan," my little heroine felt more than ever grateful and happy.
Chapter VI.
Mrs. Grange received Nan very cordially when she made her appearance with Miss Rolf. The gentle little lady was quite a revelation to Nan, whose ideas of elderly people were formed entirely on the noisy, overworked matrons she had seen at Mrs. Rupert's. Nan was only allowed a few words with her hostess, and then Miss Rolf carried her off to the little sitting-room upstairs, where, when she had laid aside her hat and jacket, Miss Rolf told her she had better write Mrs. Rupert a note to explain her absence.