Dear mother, you
were always very good to me, and I am sorry if I ever offended you;
but father called me bad names, and was very cross; he will be
vexed, perhaps, when he sees how grand and happy I am.
'Good-bye for a little time, my dear mother. Don't be very angry
with your dutiful, affectionate daughter, JANETTA.'
The word 'dutiful' was scratched through and affectionate added.
When Mrs Prothero had read this letter, she turned very pale, and stood
like one in a dream; she could not realise the contents. That Netta was
wilful and obstinate she knew, but she had never known her guilty of
resolute disobedience; she felt very faint, and sat down on a chair
opposite the open door--she tried to rise to go downstairs to her
husband, but found that her head was too giddy, and she could not move;
she put her hand before her eyes, and became unconscious.
At this moment Gladys passed down the passage, and seeing Mrs Prothero
in this strange attitude, went into the room and asked if anything was
the matter. Receiving no answer, she put her hand tenderly on Mrs
Prothero's, and removing it from before her face, saw that she was pale,
and appeared to have fainted. She ran hastily downstairs, and finding
Owen alone, told him that his mother was ill.
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