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'I shall breakfast a little earlier than usual to-morrow morning, Vava, said Stella when they were going to bed that night. 'Doreen says she catches the 8.40, so we shall be in plenty of time if we have breakfast at eight o'clock, objected Vava. 'You can go with Doreen by that train, but I shall take the 8.20, replied her sister.
I simply meant to give you the letter, which I should know by the handwriting, and ask you as a gentleman not to read it. A gleam came into James Jones's eyes as she said this; but he replied quietly, 'I think you might trust me, Miss Wharton, as a gentleman, not to take any notice of what a child like Vava said.
Jones knew it, and was far too friendly with Vava to resent her familiarity. But this morning the one thought that possessed her was that she must get that letter whatever happened. She could never face Mr. Jones after he had been asked by her younger sister to put up with her stiffness because she was poor and could not help it.
'Everything's downright horrid, nursie, said Vava, going into the kitchen after dinner to pour out her woes into the housekeeper's sympathetic ear. 'When night's blackest, dawn's nearest not that I think it's a very black night; we must all pay for our experience, and you are paying at this minute, replied the old woman. 'But I don't see why I should pay to-day! I had not done anything wrong.
But I'd rather go to the manse; Mrs. Monro would be sure to take us! cried Vava. However, before Vava had uttered the last word, another knock came at the door, and in answer to Stella's 'Come in! David M'Taggart entered, looking rather shamefaced.
I do not care to accept favours from strangers; and really, Vava, I don't know what you mean by knowing my affairs before I know them myself. I don't know when we are going to London yet. Perhaps not for a week or two, and at any rate not with those people, who may be very kind, but are not educated; he can't even speak the King's English.
'I expect it's the quiet after the noise of Westminster and the exciting day we had yesterday, said Vava, who was enjoying her breakfast in bed. It was a very happy day. Stella, Vava, and Mrs. Morrison went to their own church, and Amy went to hers alone, for Eva was not up.
Morrison, and even to her she only spoke about her life before she came to London, since which, she explained, she had only existed. She never spoke of the present time. As for Vava, she avoided Eva's society rather than sought it.
'Yes, if you like, agreed Vava, not seeing very well how she was to get out of it, but wondering what Stella would say to her choice of a friend. As they entered the playground she saw Rosie Brown the centre of a little group of girls, who looked up as she came in, and then looked away again, without nodding good-morning as usual.
'But we don't mind knowing our next-door neighbour; in fact, we shall know him, because he is our landlord, and a very honest, nice man, the agent says; not educated' 'Vava, was that the bell? interrupted Doreen abruptly. Doreen's manners were certainly very bad, and Vava said severely, 'You are rude, Doreen, and if I did not know you I should think you took no interest in our new house.
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