Fanny saw that her sister was awake, and she resolved to improve the
opportunity, even if Julia were not in a very gentle mood. So she said,
"Sister, I want to tell you something; wake up, won't you?"
"Wake up!" answered Julia. "I should like to know who's been asleep, or
who can sleep where you are? What is the great secret you wish to tell
me?"
With many blushes and some stammering Fanny got through with her story.
After she had finished Julia was silent a few moments and then said,
"Well, what of it? What if Dr. Lacey has promised to marry you? Is that
any reason why you should keep me awake all night?"
Fanny did not answer, and as her mind was relieved from the weighty matter
of telling her sister, she soon fell asleep, and when she awoke the sun
was high in the heavens, and Mrs. Miller was bending over her, wishing her
a "Merry Christmas!" That day there was sent to Mrs. Crane's a large box,
which Dr. Lacey was very particular to have handled carefully. When it was
opened it was found to contain an elegant rosewood piano, and a note in
which was written, "A Christmas Gift for Fanny." The delighted girl did
not ask who was the giver, for she well knew; and resolved to apply
herself closely to music, so as to do justice to the beautiful present.
The two weeks of Dr. Lacey's stay passed rapidly away, and at their close
he bade Fanny an affectionate good-by, promising to write regularly twice
a week, and to return, if possible, at the end of three months. After he
was gone, it seemed to Fanny that one-half of her life had left her, and
she felt very unhappy. There was something in her sister's manner which
she could not define, and as Julia seemed anxious to avoid her, she spent
much of her time with Mrs. Miller, who each day grew fonder of her little
"Kentucky sister," as she often called her in imitation of her brother.
Meanwhile Julia spent all her leisure hours with Mrs. Carrington, to whom
she confided her feelings and wishes. Mrs. Carrington was not displeased
to find that Julia was determined to break the engagement between Dr.
Lacey and Fanny, and secretly hoped she would succeed. Not that she wished
to aid Julia in securing the doctor, for such was not her intention.
Neither did she look upon such an event as possible, for she felt sure
that Dr. Lacey never would fancy Julia, even if there were no Fannys in
the world; and supposing he did, she could easily remedy it by exposing
Julia's wickedness.