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It seemed as though some piece of good fortune had come to pass

after the doctor had gone. The mother was much more cheerful when

she went back to her daughter, and Kitty pretended to be more

cheerful. She had often, almost always, to be pretending now.

"Really, I'm quite well, mamma. But if you want to go abroad,

let's go!" she said, and trying to appear interested in the

proposed tour, she began talking of the preparations for the

journey.

Chapter 2

Soon after the doctor, Dolly had arrived. She knew that there was

to be a consultation that day, and though she was only just up

after her confinement (she had another baby, a little girl, born

at the end of the winter), though she had trouble and anxiety

enough of her own, she had left her tiny baby and a sick child,

to come and hear Kitty's fate, which was to be decided that day.

"Well, well?" she said, coming into the drawing-room, without

taking off her hat. "You're all in good spirits. Good news,

then?"