'd better not. But it's rather hard not to have any one I can
tell about it, when I've been so interested.'

And Frances's face grew very doleful.

Bessie Harper looked and felt sorry for her. She knew what a warm
faithful little heart she had to do with, and unaware as she was of
Frances's slight fear of Jacinth's displeasure, she perhaps
overestimated the trial it was to the younger sister to be debarred from
giving her confidences to the elder one.

'I'm very sorry,' she said, sympathisingly. 'I really am very sorry
indeed. But still I'm sure it's better for Jacinth not to know about it
till I hear what mother says. You see she _may_ be invited to Lady
Myrtle's any day, and if anything about the Elvedons or our family was
said, it would be impossible for her not to feel uncomfortable
and--and--not open, you know, unless she told what Margaret told you,
and that might be just what father would dislike.'

'And suppose _I_ go to Robin Redbreast too,' said Frances, 'what am I to
do?'

'I thought you said Jacinth was the one who would go,' said Bessie.

'Oh well,' replied Frances, who had raised the difficulty partly out of
half-petulant contradiction, 'I am pretty sure it will be Jass. I don't
think Lady Myrtle noticed me much, and I don't want to go. I don't like
her; at least I don't care about her unless she could be made nice to
you. And any way she wouldn't ask _me_ questions, even if by chance she
did hear your name'----

'And Jacinth isn't the least likely to speak about us, as things are. So
it's all right; and any way, Frances, you can write a very long letter
to your mother to-morrow.'

'Yes,' the little girl agreed. 'That's better than nothing; only, just
think of the weeks and weeks before I can get an answer! Whatever other
troubles you have, Bessie, you _are_ lucky to have your father and
mother in England, and to know them. I don't know mamma for myself a
bit; only by her letters, and because I just feel she _must_ be very
good and kind. When I was very little it seemed something like--no,
perhaps you wouldn't understand'----

'I think I would,' said Bessie, who was eager to make up by every means
in her power for any distress she was causing to her friend. 'Tell me.'

'I was only thinking what queer feelings children have,' said Frances.
'When I was little, before I had ever seen mamma--of course I can
remember her since the time I _did_ see her, five years ago, and since
then she has seemed r