Betty Vivian Part 2

"Yes, I think Betty is the name of one of the girls."

"There are three," said f.a.n.n.y. "There's Betty, who is about my age; and then there are the twins, Sylvia and Hetty."

"Then, of course, you _do_ know them, dear?"

"Yes, I know them. I went to stay with them in Scotland for a week during last holidays. My cousin--their aunt, Miss Vivian--was very ill, however, and we had to keep things rather quiet. They lived at a place called Craigie Muir--quite beautiful, you know, but very, very wild."

"That doesn't matter, dear."

"Well, why are you speaking to me about them? They are my cousins, and I spent a week with them not very long ago."

"You observed how ill Miss Vivian was?"

"I used to hear that she was ill; Sylvia used to tell me. Betty couldn't stand anything sad or depressing, so I never spoke to her on the subject."

"And you--you liked your cousins? You appreciated them, did you not, f.a.n.n.y?"

"I didn't know them very well," said f.a.n.n.y in a slightly evasive voice.

Miss Symes felt her heart sink within her. She knew f.a.n.n.y Crawford well.

She was the last girl to say a word against another; at the same time she was exceedingly truthful.

"Well, dear," said Miss Symes, "your father came here yesterday in order to----"

"To see me, of course," interrupted f.a.n.n.y; "to tell me that he was going to India. Poor darling dad! It was a terrible blow!"

"Sir John came here on other business also, f.a.n.n.y. He wanted to see Mrs.

Haddo. You know that poor Miss Vivian is dead?"

"Oh, yes," said f.a.n.n.y. Then she added impulsively, "Betty will be in a terrible state!"

"It may be in your power to comfort her, dear."

"To comfort Betty Vivian! What do you mean?"

"It has just been arranged between Mrs. Haddo and your father, who is now the guardian of the girls, that they are all three to come here as pupils in the school. They will arrive here on Monday. You are glad, are you not, Fan?"

f.a.n.n.y started to her feet. She stood very still, staring straight before her.

"You are glad--of course, f.a.n.n.y?"

f.a.n.n.y then turned and faced her governess. "Do you want the truth, or--or--a lie?"

"f.a.n.n.y, my dear, how can you speak to me in that tone? Of course I want the truth."

"Then I am not glad."

"But, my dear, consider. Those poor girls--they are orphans almost in a double sense. They are practically alone in the world. They are your cousins. You must have a very strong reason for saying what you have said--that you are not glad."

"I am not glad," repeated f.a.n.n.y.

Miss Symes was silent. She felt greatly disturbed. After a minute she said, "f.a.n.n.y, is there anything in connection with the Vivians which, in your opinion, Mrs. Haddo ought to know?"

"I won't tell," said f.a.n.n.y; and now her voice was full of agitation. She turned away and suddenly burst out crying.

"My dear child! my dear child! you are upset by the thought of your father's absence. Compose yourself, my love. Don't give way, f.a.n.n.y, dear. Try to have that courage that we all strive to attain at Haddo Court."

f.a.n.n.y hastily dashed away her tears. Then she said, after a pause, "Is it fixed that they are to come?"

"Yes, it is quite fixed."

"Miss Symes, you took me at first by surprise, but when the Vivians arrive you will see that I shall treat them with the affection due to cousins of my own; also, that I will do my utmost to make them happy."

"I am sure of it, my love. You are a very plucky girl!"

"And you won't tell Mrs. Haddo that I seemed distressed at the thought of their coming?"

"Do you really wish me not to tell her?"

"I do, most earnestly."

"Now, f.a.n.n.y, I am going to trust you. Mrs. Haddo has been more or less driven into a corner over this matter. Your dear, kind father has been suddenly left in sole charge of those three young girls. He could not take them to India with him, and he had no home to offer them in this country. Mrs. Haddo, therefore, contrary to her wont, has agreed to receive them without the personal interview which she has. .h.i.therto thought essential."

f.a.n.n.y smiled. "Oh, can I ever forget that interview when my turn came to receive it? I was at once more frightened and more elated than I believed it possible for any girl to be. I loved Mrs. Haddo on the spot, and yet I shook before her."

"But you don't fear her now, dear?"

"I should fear her most frightfully if I did anything wrong."

"f.a.n.n.y, look down deep into your heart, and tell me if, in keeping something to yourself which you evidently know concerning your cousins, you are doing right or wrong."

"I will answer your question to-morrow," replied f.a.n.n.y. "Now, may I go back to the others; they are waiting for me?"

"Yes, you may go, dear."

"The Vivians come here on Monday?" said f.a.n.n.y as she rose.

"Yes, dear, on Monday. By the way, Miss Ludlow is arranging to give them the blue room, next to yours. You don't object, do you?"

"No," said f.a.n.n.y. The next minute the girl was out of sight.

Miss Symes sat very still. What was the matter? What was f.a.n.n.y Crawford trying to conceal?

That evening Mrs. Haddo said to Miss Symes, "You have told f.a.n.n.y that her cousins are coming?"

"Yes."

"And how did she take it?"