“Then, will you take me away from this?” she asked, in a whisper; “I am sure that papa would do so. I am not happy here; but do not let Mrs Barnett know I said so.”
“If you can be removed without risk, I certainly will take you,” answered the general.
“Oh, yes, yes! I shall be well soon. I could get up now if they will give me my clothes,” exclaimed Mary.
The day was bright and warm; and as the general felt sure that Mary could be removed without danger, he determined to take her to his sister-in-law’s immediately.
“Take me! take me!” said Mary; “I feel quite strong enough, and the doctor said that there was nothing particularly the matter with me.”
Her eagerness to go was still further increased when she heard that she was to be taken care of by Clara Maynard.
“I thought that she had been shut up in a convent,” she exclaimed. “The girls here were saying that it is a very holy life, though I don’t know that there are many who wish to lead it; but I was very, very sorry to hear of Clara’s being a nun, because I thought that perhaps I might never see her again, and of all people I wondered that she should turn nun.”
“I trust that she has given up all intention of becoming one,” said the general; “but you will see her soon, and she will tell you what she thinks about the matter.”
The general then told the servant to assist Miss Lennard in dressing, while he went out to obtain a conveyance. On returning to the house, he desired again to see Mrs Barnett. The lady was somewhat indignant, and warned him that he must be responsible for the consequences of removing Miss Lennard.
“Of course I am, and I am taking her where she can be more carefully nursed than is possible in a school,” answered the general.