Gillian was, of course, not seen till she came home from evening
service.
'Oh, mamma,' she said, 'what did you do to Constance?'
'Why?'
'Well, I heard you shut the front door. And presently after there came
such a noise through the wall that all the girls pricked up their ears,
and Miss Hacket jumped up in a fright. If it had been Val, one would
have called it a naughty child roaring.'
'What! did I send her into hysterics?'
'I suppose, as she is grown up, it must have the fine name, but it
wasn't a bit like poor Dolly's choking. I am sure she did it to make
her sister come! Well, of course, Miss Hacket went away, and I did the
best I could, but what could one do with all these screeches and
bellowings breaking out?'
'For shame. Gill!'
'I can't help it, mamma. If you had only seen their faces when the
uproar came in a fresh gust! How they whispered, and some looked awe-
struck. I thought I had better get rid of them, and come home myself;
but Miss Hacket met me, and implored me to stay, and I was weak-minded
enough to do so. I wish I hadn't, for it was only to be provoked past
bearing. That horrid girl has poisoned even Miss Hacket's mind, and
she thinks you have been hard on her darling. You did not know how
nervous and timid dear Connie is!'
'Well, Gill, I confess she made me very angry, and I told her what I
thought of her.'
'And that she didn't choose to hear!'
'Did you see her again?'
'No, I am thankful to say, I did not.
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