"Who is with Frank?"
"Anne. She hardly ever leaves him. She is our main-stay at the
Hall."
"Is he ever sensible?" she faintly asked.
"He has not been really rational for nearly ten days now."
"If--if--oh! you know what I mean. Oh! gain his pardon for me!" and
she covered her face with her hand.
"Poor Frank!--it is of your pardon that he talks. Tell me,
Eleonora, did you ever receive a letter from my mother?"
"Never. Where was it sent?" she said, starting.
"To Revelrig. It was written the day after the ball."
"I never went to Revelrig. Oh! if I could have spoken to you first
I should have been saved from so much that was wrong. No one knew
where I was."
"No, not till Sister Margaret told Herbert Bowater that her sisters
had been at a ball at the town-hall the week before. Then he saw
she was Miss Strangeways, and asked if she knew where you were."
"Ah, yes! disobedience--tacit deception--temper. Oh! they have
brought their just punishment. But that letter!"
"I think it was to explain poor Frank's conduct at the races.
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