"I never liked her, and I never shall," said Fanny with a toss of her head. "She may suit you, Mrs. Haddo, but she doesn't suit me. And I wish to say that I want you to send me, at once, to stay with my aunt Amelia at Brighton until I can hear from my father with regard to my future arrangements. If you don't send me, I have money in my pocket, and will go in spite of you. I don't like your school any longer. I did love it, but now I hate it; and it is all--all because of Betty Vivian." "Oh, Fanny, what a pity!" said Mrs. Haddo. Tears filled her eyes. But Fanny would not look up. "May I go?" said Fanny. "Yes, my dear. Anderson shall take you, and I will write a note to your aunt. Fanny, is there no chance of your turning to our Divine Father to ask Him to forgive you for your sins of cruelty to one unhappy but very splendid girl?" "Oh, don't talk to me of her splendor!" said Fanny. "I am sick of it." "Very well, I will say no more." Mrs. Haddo sank into the nearest chair. After a minute's pause she turned to her writing-table and wrote a letter. She then rang her bell, and desired Anderson to get ready for a short journey. About three o'clock that day Fanny, accompanied by Anderson, with her trunks and belongings heaped on top of a station-cab, drove from Haddo Court never to return. There were no girls to say farewell; in fact, not one of her friends even knew of her departure until Mrs. Haddo mentioned it on the following morning. "Fanny did right to go," she said. "And now we will try to live down all that has been so painful, and turn our faces once again towards the light." * * * * * Betty recovered all in good time; but it was not until Christmas had long passed that she first asked for Fanny Crawford. When she heard that Fanny had gone, a queer look--half of pleasure, half of pain--flitted across her little face. "You're glad, aren't you? You're very, very glad, Bettina?" whispered Sylvia in her sister's ear. "No, I am not glad," replied Betty. "If I had known she was going I might have spoken to her just once. As it is, I am sorry." "Oh Bettina, why?" "Because she has lost the influence of so noble a woman as dear Mrs. Haddo, and of so faithful a friend as Margaret Grant, and of so dear a girl as Martha West. Oh, why did I ever come here to upset things? And why did I ever tell that wicked, wicked lie?" "You have repented now, poor darling, if any one ever did!" said both the twins. As they spoke Mrs. Haddo entered the room. "Betty," she said, "I wish to tell you something. You certainly did exceedingly wrong when you told Sir John Crawford that you knew nothing of the packet. But I know you did not steal it, dear, for I hold a letter in my hand from your aunt, in which she told Sir John that she had given the packet absolutely into your care. Sir John could never have read that letter; but I have read it, dear, and I have written to him on the subject."