Dorothy Dainty's Gay Times

and Mrs. Dainty had taken an early train for th

was a new cloak to be "tried on." Mrs. Dainty had wished to have Mr

g," Aunt Charlotte said, "but I am to visit a friend who is ill, and that would be very dull for you, and if

time," Nancy said, cheerfully; "I shall pla

e your lunch at my hous

ge to play with me this afternoon," Nancy continu

there, and they had played tag and hide-and-seek just as if it had been a summer day. The sunlight was warm, the breeze soft a

this afternoon," called Mollie, as Nan

promptly as the hands upon the dining-

, never smiled even when the jokes told at the table were very funny. But the maid's

not very cheerful after all, and after a hasty meal, she slipped from her c

he girl said, "you might take an orange, a

l at lunch. She remembered that they rarely came out to play in the afternoon before half-past two. She wondered where she would rather spend the time. At the cottage she could play with the kitten, get out the new game that Mrs. Dainty had given her, or

us using up as much time as possible. The house stood high, and from

intending to wait at the great g

ut, some one rushed past her. The plainly dress

cried, and "Why,

ant place Nancy? Why, i

thy. I live in that dear little stone cottage with Aunt Charlotte," Nancy sa

d the girl, bending to look into Nancy's

me when Uncle Steve was cross, and when I was sick you sent my lit

now I've come ter ax yer ter do somethi

ooked up into S

was kind. You were working for Uncle Steve, and you were as afraid of him

do it quick fer me, but it ain'

as quick for him. Uncle Steve was going to make me dance when I was s

ed up into Sue's blue ones, and Sue's chee

n' my wages whilst he's gone, an' I'm stayin' with a woman what I worked

frightened eyes she stared a mome

me here!" cried Sue.

t she did not ta

her, and Nancy seem

e think yer Uncle Steve's after yer, but ye can be sure he ain't. Y

k to where Sue

rue?" sh

see yer. Oh, if yer could see her, Nancy, ye'd hate ter say 'no.' She keeps askin' fer yer all day, an' when I

go to the city to s

a little ways from here. Ye could go with me

hy

eemed strange that her aunt, who had nev

ll she sees ye. It's her worryin' that won't let her git well. Ef she could see ye fer a little talk, an' tell ye what

l of tears, and her s

o!" she cried, clasping her

d let ye ef they knew yer Uncle Steve wasn't t

ut everybody's away. If only Aunt Charlott

e'll find it as soon's she gits home? Ye kin tell her I took yer ter yer au

hesi

e gittin' back ter yer aunt, so I must go with yer, er els

o," Nancy said, but her voice trembled. Even although Sue had assured her that Unc

ancy," coaxed Sue, "an' ye'd ou

d, "if you'll promis

'll promise to

cottage, wrote a hasty note, which she left upon the table, and then, with her heart beati

had no idea that she was doing anything which co

the house, and ask permissio

om, and she felt that that made the whole affair open and honest. Nancy's loving little heart was less light. She thought that it must be right to go with Sue, and if her

ck, and as she looked, wondered if, even then, she ought to run back to the cottage. Then the thought o

tle of a locomotive was heard coming around a bend of the road, and almost before Nancy knew it they we

s of other villages standing out clearly against the blue sky, but they blurred and became indistinct, because she could not keep back the tears. S

e'll be there, an' when ye see how much good it'

ad done right. It must be that she really ought to be on her way

s speed, and a frowzy-haired brakeman thrust his head into t

aid Sue, as she

d together they left the car an

with yer?" said Sue. "Ye could hev packed a littl

t to bring in a bag?" N

ant a apron, a night-gown,

the middle of the roa

aren't you coming b

I thought I told ye that yer

omething to give me, and something to tell me, but tha

wn, an' there's only two er three trains a day. Ye must hev told

not, but truly I didn't think you me

ne, an' that little bit of a house where the cat sits on the st

ittle house, the tiny fruit-trees in the yard, and the white

ttage. But small though it was, it looked far better than the old house in the city