Frank looked about. “Good thing Millie’s with Isabelle. Being in a place like this is bound to bring back bad memories.” “I gathered they’d attended an academy. How old were they?” “Isabelle was barely ten. Millie’s four years younger.” “She was only six?” She was nothing more than a baby! “Who could send away their flesh and blood like that?” “Their uncle. According to my wife, a distant relative wanted Millie. Millie begged for her to take them both and threw quite the tantrum when she refused. As a result, both girls went to the academy.” Frank sighed. “Isabelle still holds herself to blame. Trying to console Millie, Isabelle promised her they’d always stay together. She never imagined her pledge would cause Millie to forsake the opportunity for a normal life.” “Adults ought never have placed the girls in such straits.” Frank shook his head. “It got worse. By the time Isabelle turned fifteen, their uncle had squandered the family funds. Isabelle found a school that would allow her to work in exchange for keeping Millie as a student.
