"Oh, very well," she answered. "It will do for the present."
"And Miss Crawford?"
"She will not see me nor hear from me. She is ill and low-spirited, and Mrs. Barton tells me that a niece has come to look after her."
"Isn't that rather a good thing?"
"No: I don't like it. I saw one or two of those nieces—there are seven of them—great vulgar, managing women. I can't bear to think of my dear little Miss Crawford being bullied and nursed by Miss Price. She couldn't endure them, I know, only she was so fond of their mother."
Percival changed the subject: "So you go to Mrs. Barton's still? I didn't know that till last Monday."
"When you rescued Janie from imminent peril. Oh, I have heard," said Judith with a smile.
"Please to describe me as risking my own life in the act. It would be a pity not to make me heroic while you are about it."
"Janie would readily believe it. She measures her danger by her terror, which was great. But she is a dear, good child, and it is such a pleasure to me to go there every week!"
"Ah! Then you are not happy at Miss Macgregor's?"