ctant at first to betray Nora's confidence, she soon acknowledged
that it was a relief to her to speak the truth and the whole truth to
Janetta. Her account tallied in the main with the one given by Nora.
There did not seem to have been more than a little concealment, a little
flirting, a little folly; but Janetta was aghast to think of the extent
to which Nora might have been compromised, and indignant at Cuthbert
Brand's culpable thoughtlessness--if it was nothing worse.

"What people have said of the Brands is true," she declared vehemently
to herself. "They work mischief wherever they go; they have no goodness,
no pity, no feeling of right and wrong. I thought that Cuthbert looked
good, but he is no better than the others, and there is nothing to be
hoped from any of them. And father told me to take care of his
children--and I promised. What can I do? His 'faithful Janetta' cannot
leave them to take their own way--to go to ruin if they please! Oh, my
poor Nora! You did not mean any harm, and perhaps I _was_ hard on you!"

She relieved herself by a few quiet but bitter tears; and then she was
forced to leave the consideration of the matter for the present, as
there were many household duties to attend to which nobody could manage
but herself.

When she was again able to consider the matter, however, she began to
make up her mind that she must act boldly and promptly if she meant to
act at all. Nora had no father, and practically no mother: Janetta must
be both at once, if she would fulfil her ideal of duty. And by degrees a
plan of action formed itself in her mind. She would go to the Brands'
house, and ask for Cuthbert himself. Certainly she had heard that he was
in Paris, but surely he would have returned by this time--for New Year's
Day if not for Christmas Day! She would see him and ask him to
forbear--ask him not to send flowers to her little sister, who was too
young for such attentions--to herself Janetta added, "and too silly." He
could be only amusing himself--and he should not amuse himself at Nora's
expense. He had a nice face, too, she could not help reflecting, he did
not look like a man who would do a wanton injury to a fatherless girl.
Perhaps, after all, there was some mistake.

And if she could not see him, she would see Mrs. Brand. The mother
would, no doubt, help her: she had been always kind. Of Wyvis Brand she
scarcely thought. She hoped that she might not see him--she had never
spoken to him,