Page:The Father Confessor, Stories of Danger and Death.djvu/284

274 directed to Miss Allison. The maid had laid it upon her dressing-table, having found it in the shrubbery, she said. Virginia opened it wonderingly. It contained nothing but a huge silk scarf of brilliant colours, with "Lucy" in ugly blue letters in the corner. As she was examining it her sister entered. She ran forward and claimed it; then stopped, confused. Virginia's eyes were upon her.

"Another purchase, Lucy?" She smiled, then grew chill. "Whose writing is this? It's not yours," she said.

"It's mine." Lucy snatched it from her. "A present. Don't be silly."

"Who from?"

Virginia grew more stern, but Lucy would not answer.

"I won't tell you, you are so cross."

She pretended to be offended, and was glad to slip out of the room. Virginia was anxious; she could not sleep. She knew by Lucy's confusion she was hiding something. George was away, his brief holiday being over; all the guests save Miss Anderson had gone. She felt she ought to have more time with her sister. She remembered with a shock that there were