Anna was slower in this branch of her education, and meanwhile here was the letter.
Edith Harnham's large dark eyes expressed some interest in the contents, though, in her character of mere interpreter, she threw into her tone as much as she could of mechanical passiveness.

She read the short epistle on to its concluding sentence, which idly requested Anna to send him a tender answer.
'Now--you'll do it for me, won't you, dear mistress ?' said Anna eagerly.
'And you'll do it as well as ever you can, please?
Because I couldn't bear him to think I am not able to do it myself.

I should sink into the earth with shame if he knew that!' From some words in the letter Mrs.Harnham was led to ask questions, and the answers she received confirmed her suspicions.

Deep concern filled Edith's heart at perceiving how the girl had committed her happiness to the issue of this new-sprung attachment.

She blamed herself for not interfering in a flirtation which had resulted so seriously for the poor little creature in her charge; though at the time of seeing the pair together she had a feeling that it was hardly within her province to nip young affection in the bud.