'Grace Crawley is here,' said Miss Prettyman.

'What is the matter, Grace?' said Miss Anne, seeing her tears.

'Never mind now,' said Miss Prettyman.

'Poor dear, I'm sure I'm sorry as though she were my own sister,' said
Anne. 'But, Annabella, I want to speak to you especially.'

'To me, in private?'

'Yes, to you; in private, if Grace won't mind?'

Then Grace prepared to go. But as she was going, Miss Anne, upon whose
brow a heavy burden of thought was lying, stopped her suddenly. 'Grace,
my dear,' she said, 'go upstairs to your room, will you?--not across the
hall to the school.'

'And why shouldn't she go to the school?' said Miss Prettyman.

Miss Anne paused for a moment, and then answered--unwillingly, as though
driven to make a reply which she knew to be indiscreet. 'Because there
is somebody in the hall.'

'Go to your room, dear,' said Miss Prettyman. And Grace went to her
room, never turning an eye down towards the hall. 'Who is it?' said Miss
Prettyman.

'Major Grantly is here, asking to see you,' said Miss Anne.