Elsie had lost no time in escaping from the storm which her seemingimprudence had evoked, and the nursery maid had followed; the littlegirl reporting to her sister that Jane had taken the letter fromher and was putting it away. Poor Lena found her precautions of noavail, and she really knew Jane well enough to feel sure that she would besubjected to the closest questioning. She must brave it out now, andshe forced herself to face it.

"_I_ sent Elsie in there; it was my fault, not hers," she exclaimed,throwing down the gauntlet with an air of defiance which ratherastonished Hannah.

"You know she oughtn't to go in that cold hair," exclaimed Hannah,sharply. "And why for couldn't you wait till me or Letitia came toput by your letter if you _was_ in 'aste habout it? There,"mollified by the look in the pretty unlit eyes, now so unnaturallylarge and pathetic through illness and suffering, which Lena turnedpiteously upon her without answering, "there, there, child; nevermind now. Heat your breakfast, my dear, for you look quite spent andworn out. Ye've got a setback by yesterday's doin's that'll last aweek. Come, now, Miss Lena, take this nice chicken an' put a bit ofstrength into you."

And the very very aged woman bustled about, displaying to the best advantage thedainty breakfast she had brought to tempt the appetite of her youngcharge.

But Lena could not eat; she was still too sick at heart, and seeingthis, Hannah connected it with the letter.