"Off you go," said Margaret brightly, and, pressing a light kiss upon the tumbled curls, she turned and went out quietly, leaving her charge to her own devices. When they afterwards met at luncheon, all traces of the storm were past, and Ellice chatted responsively to the governess she had intended earlier to hate for ever and ever. CHAPTER VI OLD FRIENDS Nothing was allowed to disturb Dr. Crane during his breakfast-time; his wife took her meal in silence, while he studied his letters and newspaper. This morning was no exception to the general rule, but suddenly he laid down his correspondence, and said abruptly: "By the way, Mary, have you heard anything from Margaret Woodford lately?" "A few days ago," she answered. "Why do you ask?" "To tell you the truth, I've never felt quite satisfied about her going to that post she accepted. I really owed it to her father to find out what kind of people her employers were." "Well, dear, she didn't give you much chance of doing that. You remember she answered the advertisement, and got the situation through an agency, and we knew nothing about it until everything was settled." "Yes, but I still feel I ought to have made a point of inquiring personally. Does she seem happy?" "I don't know about happy--I should imagine not very; one can hardly expect that, perhaps--but she mentions the people are kind, and the country lovely. It is evident she is leading a quiet life; her employers for some reason seem to wish to live in retirement." "Now, I wonder why? I don't quite like that fact," said the Doctor, a little testily. "Why, John, surely you are unreasonably suspicious; the child is evidently in a comfortable home, and I think must be interested in her work, or she would not have stayed so long. I made her promise to come away to us at once if she found anything wrong--in fact I asked her here for the holidays in August." "Oh, I'm glad you did that!" he interposed in more satisfied tones. "And what does she say?" "I think she fears it would be painful to see the old home again so soon; she says she has been asked to stay where she is, and she would rather remain, and in fact she does not need rest yet." "I hope it is all right then," answered Dr. Crane. "Ask her in your next to tell you everything unreservedly about the people, and if she is quite content? Seems strange Woodford's daughter should be out in the world like this, doesn't it?" he finished musingly. "Yes--and how different it might have been if Jack--had--lived," said Mrs. Crane sadly.