She came and sat down beside me at once.
'Oh, I am so vexed that we are so late! but it was all Etta's fault: she would look in at every shop-window, and so of course we lost the proper train.' 'What does the child say ?' asked Miss Darrell good-humouredly.

She seemed in excellent spirits this evening; but how silent Miss Hamilton had become since her entrance! 'Of course poor Etta is blamed; she always is if anything goes wrong in the house; Etta is the family scapegoat.

But who was it, I wonder, who wanted another turn on the pier?
Not Etta, certainly.' 'Just as though those few minutes would have mattered; and I did want another look at the sea,' returned Lady Betty pettishly; 'but no, you preferred those stupid shops.

That is why I hate to go into Brighton with you.' But Miss Darrell only laughed at this flimsy display of wrath.
Just then Mr.Tudor had taken the other vacant chair beside me.

'How is the village nurse ?' he asked, in his bright way.