“I am, sir,
“Your humble servant,
“FANNY FRANKLAND.”
* * * *
*
Mr. Folingsby was surprised and confounded, when this
letter, and the book containing his bank-notes, were
put into his hand by his aunt. Mrs. Hungerford
told him by what means the book had been seen by Miss
Jessy Bettesworth, and to what imputations it must
have exposed Fanny. “Fanny is afraid of
making mischief between you and me,” continued
Mrs. Hungerford “and I cannot prevail upon her
to give me an explanation, which I am persuaded would
be much to her honour.”
“Then you have not seen this letter! Then
she has decided without consulting you! She is
a charming girl!” cried Mr. Folingsby; “and
whatever you may think of me, I am bound, in justice
to her, to show you what she has written: that
will sufficiently explain how much I have been to
blame, and how well she deserves the confidence you
place in her.”
As he spoke, Mr. Folingsby rang the bell to order
his horses. “I will return to town immediately,”
continued he; “so Fanny need not leave the house
of her only friend to avoid me. As to these bank-notes,
keep them, dear aunt. She says her father is
in great distress. Perhaps, now that I am come
‘to a right way of thinking,’ she will
not disdain my assistance. Give her the money
when and how you think proper. I am sure I cannot
make a better use of a hundred guineas; and wish I
had never thought of making a worse.”
Mr. Folingsby returned directly to town; and his aunt
thought he had in some measure atoned for his fault
by his candour and generosity. Miss Jessy Bettesworth
waited all this time, with malicious impatience, to
hear the result of Fanny’s explanation with Mrs.
Hungerford. How painfully was she surprised and
disappointed, when Mrs. Hungerford returned to the
company, to hear her speak in the highest terms of
Fanny! “Oh, mamma,” cried little Gustavus,
clapping his hands, “I am glad you think her
good, because we all think so; and I should be very
sorry indeed if she was to go away, especially in disgrace.”
“There is no danger of that, my dear,”
said Mrs. Hungerford. “She shall never
leave my house, as long as she desires to stay in it.
I do not give, or withdraw, my protection, without
good reasons.”
Miss Jessy Bettesworth hit her lips. Her face,
which nature intended to be beautiful, became almost
ugly; envy and malice distorted her features; and,
when she departed with Mrs. Cheviott, her humiliated
appearance was a strong contrast to the air of triumph
with which she had entered.
* * * *
*
After Jessy and Mrs. Cheviott had left the room, one
of the little girls exclaimed, “I don’t
like that Miss Bettesworth; for she asked me whether
I did not wish that Fanny was gone, because she refused
to let me have a peach that was not ripe. I am
sure I wish Fanny may always stay here.”
