Folks
would talk!"
And growing suddenly very careful of her cousin's reputation, she
dispatched a note to Rose Hill requesting her immediate return.
Not that she really thought there would be any impropriety in
Dora's staying with Mr. Hastings, but because she had a plan by
which she hoped herself to see him every day. And in this plan she
succeeded. As she had expected, her note brought down Mr. Hastings
himself, who, on his child's account, objected to parting with
Dora, unless it were absolutely necessary.
"She is as well off there as here," said he; "and why can't she
stay?"
"I am perfectly willing she should take care of little Ella,"
answered the previously instructed Mrs. Deane, who, in a measure,
shared her daughter's ambitious designs; "but it must be done
here, if at all. I can't suffer her to remain alone with those
gossiping servants."
"Oh, yes!" exclaimed Eugenia, speaking as if this were the first
she had heard of it. "That is a good idea. It will be delightful
to have the dear little creature here, and so much better for her
too in case of _croup_, or anything like that, to be with an
experienced person like mother!"
"But," said Mr.
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