human
Brushing-hair time! exclaimed Fanny in a cheerful tone.
gpt
I trust I am not in the way.
human
We were going to bed,
gpt
Oh, Betty, what a reproachful tone! Fanny tried to carry matters off with a light hand.
human
Surely I, your own cousin, am welcome? Do say I am welcome, dear Betty! and let me bring my brush and comb, and brush my hair in your room.
gpt
No, said Betty;
human
You certainly are sweetly polite, said Fanny, with a smile on her face which was not remarkable for sweetness. She looked quite calmly at the girls for a moment. Then she said,
gpt
This day, on account of your arrival, rules are off, so to speak, but they begin again to-morrow morning. To-morrow evening, therefore, I cannot come to your bedroom, for it would be breaking rules.
human
Oh, how just awfully jolly!
gpt
Thanks, said Fanny. She paused again for a minute. Then she added,
human
But as rules are off, I may as well say that I have come here to-night on purpose. Just before father left, he told me that there was a little sealed packet --Betty sat plump down on the side of her bed; Sylvia and Hetty caught each others hands--
gpt
continued Fanny,
human
No, he wasn't, said Betty;
gpt
Nonsense, Betty! Father never makes a mistake. Anyhow, he has Miss Vivian's letter, which proves the whole thing. Now, the packet cannot be found. Father is quite troubled about it. He says he has not an idea what it contains, but it was left to be placed under his care. He asked you three about it, and you said you knew nothing. He also asked the servants in that ugly little house----
human
How dare you call it ugly?
gpt
Well, well, pray don't get into a passion! Anyhow, you all denied any knowledge of the packet. Now, I may as well confess that, although I have not breathed the subject to any one, I saw you, Betty, with my own eyes, take it out of Miss Vivian's drawer. I was lying on the sofa in the dark, or almost in the dark, and you never noticed me; but I saw you open the drawer and take the packet out. That being the case, you _do_ know all about it, and you have told a lie. Please, Betty, give me the packet, and I will take it to-morrow to Mrs. Haddo, and she will look after it for you until father returns; and I promise you faithfully that I will never tell a soul what you did, nor the lie you told father about it. Now, Betty, do be sensible. Give it to me, without any delay. I felt it in the pocket under your dress to-day, so you can't deny that you have it.