Mr. Miller did not immediately answer; and Fanny said: "Come, Mr. Miller,
it is not fair to suspect me of evil and not tell what it is. You should
be more frank."
"I will tell you," said Mr. Miller; and, in as few words as possible he
repeated to Fanny the conversation which he had overheard, between Luce
and herself, as he supposed.
When he finished speaking, both Kate and Fanny were silent for a moment;
then Kate said: "It was Julia, I know it was. Did you ever notice how much
alike their voices are? And, besides, I once heard Julia lay a wager with
Mr. Raymond that she could imitate her sister's voice so exactly that one,
not seeing her, would be thoroughly deceived."
"Oh, Mrs. Miller," said Fanny, "it cannot be! Why should Julia wish to do
so wicked a thing? And yet I now remember that when I was sick, Luce came
to me one night and asked me to forgive her for everything bad she had
ever done to me. I assured her I knew of nothing to forgive; and then she
cried, and said I did not know all she did about her wickedness. She must
have referred to that night. I can forgive her; for she is a poor ignorant
girl, and much afraid of Julia. But how could my own sister do me so great
a wrong, and what could have been her object?"
Here Fanny burst into tears, while Kate gave vent to her indignation by
expressing her opinion pretty freely of Miss Julia.
"I can see," said she, "what Julia's object was. I fancy she was always
fearful lest my brother should like Fanny the best; and she probably took
this method to make you both think meanly of Fanny."
"Your idea is, probably, the correct one," said Mr. Miller, who would have
added more, but Kate interrupted him by saying, "Yes, I think I understand
it all now. Julia is, probably, at the foundation of Dr. Lacey's neglect.
Most likely she's been writing him some base falsehood."
"Dr. Lacey's neglect!" repeated Mr. Miller. "What do you mean?"
Kate commenced an explanation, but Fanny started up, saying: "Please, Mrs.
Miller, wait until I am gone."
She then quitted the apartment, and sought her own room, of which Julia
had been sole occupant for more than an hour. On her return from school
this hopeful young lady was pleased to find her sister absent. Seating
herself near the window, with paper and pencil, she began the composition
of that letter, which, as we have said, widened the breach between Dr.
Lacey and Fanny. This unhallowed work cost her a world of pains. Many
times were the lines crossed out and rewritten, before they quite suited
her. The letter was but half completed, when Fanny was heard coming slowly
through the upper hall. Springing up, Julia darted through the window out
upon the balcony, and by the time Fanny reached the room she was seated at
the furthest end of the veranda, busily engaged with her forgery.