'Ah! my dear! I suppose there are some unkind aunts, but I am sure
there are a great many more who wish with all their hearts to make
happy homes for their nieces. I hope now we may do so. I have more
hope than ever I had, and so I shall write to your father.'
'And please--please,' cried Dolores, 'don't let Uncle Regie write him a
very dreadful letter! I know he will.'
'I think you can prevent that best yourself, by telling Uncle Regie how
sorry you are. He was specially grieved because he thinks you told him
two direct falsehoods.'
'Oh! I didn't think they were that,' said Dolores, 'for it was true
that father did not leave anything with me for Uncle Alfred. And I did
not know whether it was me whom he saw at Darminster. I did tell you
one once, Aunt Lily, when you asked if I gave Constance a note. At
least, she gave it to me, and not I to her. Indeed, I don't tell
falsehoods, Aunt Lily--I mean I never did at home, but Constance said
everybody said those sort of things at school, and that one was driven
to it when one was---'
'Was what, my dear?'
'Tyrannized over,' Dolores got out.
'Ah! Dolly, I am afraid Constance was no real friend. It was a great
mistake to think her like Miss Hacket.'
'And now she has sent back all my notes, and won't look at me or speak
to me,' and Dolores's tears began afresh.
'It is very ungenerous of her, but very likely she will be very sorry
to have done so when her first anger is over, and she understands that
you were quite as much deceived as she was.
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