“I have written to him,” said my aunt.

“To⁠—?”

“To your father-in-law,” said my aunt. “I have sent him a letter that I’ll trouble him to attend to, or he and I will fall out, I can tell him!”

“Does he know where I am, aunt?” I inquired, alarmed.

“I have told him,” said my aunt, with a nod.

“Shall I⁠—be⁠—given up to him?” I faltered.

“I don’t know,” said my aunt. “We shall see.”

“Oh! I can’t think what I shall do,” I exclaimed, “if I have to go back to Mr. Murdstone!”

“I don’t know anything about it,” said my aunt, shaking her head. “I can’t say, I am sure. We shall see.”