Betty Vivian Part 48

"They told their whole story to the good wife. A packet has been lost, and Miss Betty lies at death's door because o' the grief o' that loss.

The little uns--bless 'em!--thought that the wife could find the packet.

That ain't in her line; it's mothering and coddling and loving as is in her line. So she put the job on me; and, to be plain, ma'am, I never were more flabbergasted in the whole o' my life. For to catch a poacher is one thing, and to catch a lost packet--n.o.body knowing where it be nor how it were lost--is another."

"Well, why have you come to me?" said Mrs. Haddo.

"Because, ma'am, I've got a clue, and a big one; and this young lady's the clue."

"You, Sibyl Ray--you?"

"Yes," said Sibyl.

"Speak out now, missie; don't be frightened. There are miles worse things than poverty; there's disgrace and heart-burnings. Speak you out bold, missie, and don't lose your courage."

"I was miserable," said Sibyl. "I didn't want to go to town, and when I got to the station I slipped away; and I got into the lane outside Stoke Farm and a dog came out and frightened me, and--and--then this man came--this kind man----"

"Well, go on, Sibyl," said Mrs. Haddo; "moments are precious just now."

"I--took the packet," said Sibyl.

"_You_--took--the packet?"

"Yes. I don't want to speak against another. It was my fault--or mostly my fault. I did love Betty, and it didn't matter at all to me that she was expelled from the Specialities; I should love her just as much if she were expelled from fifty Specialities. But f.a.n.n.y--she--she--put me against her."

"f.a.n.n.y! What f.a.n.n.y do you mean?"

"f.a.n.n.y Crawford."

Mrs. Haddo rose at once and rang her bell. When the servant appeared she said, "Send Miss Crawford here immediately, and don't mention that any one is in my study. Now, Sibyl, keep the rest of your story until f.a.n.n.y Crawford is present."

In about five minutes' time f.a.n.n.y appeared. She was very white, and looked rather worn and miserable. "Oh, dear!" she said as she entered, "I am so glad you have sent for me, Mrs. Haddo; and I do trust I shall have a room to myself to-night, for I didn't sleep at all last night, and----Why, whatever is the matter? Sibyl, what are you doing here? And who--who is that man?"

"Sit down, f.a.n.n.y--or stand, just as you please," said Mrs. Haddo; "only have the goodness not to speak until Sibyl has finished her story. Now, Sibyl, go on. You had come to that part where you explained that f.a.n.n.y put you against Betty Vivian. No, f.a.n.n.y, you do not go towards the door.

Stay quietly where you are."

f.a.n.n.y, seeing that all chance of exit was cut off, stood perfectly still, her eyes fixed on the ground.

"Now, Sibyl, go on."

"f.a.n.n.y was very anxious about the packet, and she wanted me to watch,"

continued Sibyl, "so that I might discover where Betty had hidden it. I did watch, and I found that Betty had put it under one of the plants of wild-heather in the 'forest primeval.' I saw her take it out and look at it and put it back again, and when she was gone I went to the place and took the packet out myself and brought it to f.a.n.n.y. I don't know where the packet is now."

"f.a.n.n.y, where is the packet?" said Mrs. Haddo.

"Sibyl is talking the wildest nonsense," said f.a.n.n.y. "How can you possibly believe her? I know nothing about Betty Vivian or her concerns."

"Perhaps, miss," said the farmer, coming forward at that moment, "that pointed thing sticking out o' your pocket might have something to do with it. You will permit me, miss, seeing that the young lady's life is trembling in the balance."

Before either Mrs. Haddo or f.a.n.n.y could utter a word Farmer Miles had strode across the room, thrust his big, rough hand into f.a.n.n.y's neat little pocket, and taken out the brown paper-packet.

"There, now," he said, "that's the kernel of the nut. I thought I'd do it somehow. Thank you kindly, ma'am, for listening to me. Miss Sibyl Ray, you may be poor in the future, but at least you'll have a light heart; and as to the dirty trick you did, I guess you won't do a second, for you have learned your lesson. I'll be wishing you good-morning now, ma'am," he added, turning to Mrs. Haddo, "for I must get back to my work. It's twelve pounds o' b.u.t.ter the cook wants sent up without fail to-night, ma'am; and I'm much obliged for the order."

The farmer left the room. f.a.n.n.y had flung herself on a chair and covered her face with her hands. Sibyl stood motionless, awaiting Mrs. Haddo's verdict.

Once again Mrs. Haddo rang the bell. "Send Miss Symes to me," she said.

Miss Symes appeared.

"The doctor's last opinion, please, Miss Symes?"

"Dr. Ashley says that Betty is much the same. The question now is how to keep up her strength. He thinks it better to have two specialists from London, as, if she continues in such intense excitement, further complications may arise."

"Do you know where Betty's sisters are?" was Mrs. Haddo's next inquiry.

"I haven't seen them for some time, but I will find out where they are."

"As soon as ever you find them, send them straight to me. I shall be here for the present."

Miss Symes glanced in some wonder from Sibyl to f.a.n.n.y; then she went out of the room without further comment.

When she was quite alone with the girls Mrs. Haddo said, "f.a.n.n.y, a fresh bedroom has been prepared for you, and I shall be glad if you will go and spend the rest of this day there. I do not feel capable of speaking to you at present. As to you, Sibyl, your conduct has been bad enough; but at the eleventh hour--and, we may hope, in time--you have made rest.i.tution. You may, therefore, rejoin the girls of the lower school."

"Of the lower school?" said Sibyl.

"Yes. Your punishment is that you return to the lower school for at least a year, until you are more capable of guiding your own conduct, and less likely to be influenced by the wicked pa.s.sions of girls who have had more experience than yourself. You can go to your room also for the present, and to-morrow morning you will resume your duties in the lower school."

f.a.n.n.y and Sibyl both turned away, neither of them saying a word to the other. They had scarcely done so before Miss Symes came in, her face flushed with excitement, and accompanied by the twins.

"My dear girls, where have you been?" said Mrs. Haddo.

"With Mrs. Miles," said Sylvia.

"I cannot blame you, under the circ.u.mstances, although you have broken a rule. My dears, thank G.o.d for His mercies. Here is the lost packet."

Sylvia grasped it.

Hester rushed towards Sylvia and laid her hand over her sister's. "Oh!

oh!" she said.

"Now, girls, can I trust you? I was told what took place this morning--how you went to Betty without leave, and promised to return with the packet. Is Betty awake at present, Miss Symes?"

"Yes," said Miss Symes, "she has been awake for a long time."

"Will you take the girls up to Betty's room? Do not go in yourself. Now, girls, I trust to your wisdom, and to your love of Betty, to do this thing very quietly."

"You may trust us," said Hetty.

They left the room. They followed Miss Symes upstairs. They entered the beautiful room where Betty was lying, her eyes shining brightly, fever high on her cheeks.

It was Hetty who put the packet into her hand. "Here it is, Betty darling. We said we'd find it for you."