So she walked on the grass by
the road-side, to keep her from getting dusty, and every now and then
her hands went up to her cheeks, to feel if they were very, very hot;
and indeed, between nervousness, and the heat, her cheeks were very,
very scarlet by the time she reached the vicarage, and had found the
back door.
Obedient to her orders, she knocked gently, so gently that for a time
no one heard her, and she was about to knock for the third time, when
a lady came round from the front of the house and caught sight of
her.
She was a young lady, tall and thin and pretty, with such shining
golden hair that it made Huldah wink to look at it gleaming in the
sunshine.
"Can't you make anyone hear? I expect cook is busy; you must knock
more loudly." She smiled kindly as she spoke, and her eyes were so
gentle and pretty that Huldah scarcely heard what she was saying, for
looking at them. "It must be Miss Rose herself," she thought to
herself.
"Please, ma'am, I--I wanted to see Miss Rose," she stammered out at
last. "Please, ma'am, are you--"
"I am Miss Rose Carew, yes. How did you know my name? You don't
live anywhere hereabouts, do you?"
"No, miss." Huldah was almost glad her cheeks were so hot already,
for she felt herself blushing at this question. "No, ma'am, I--I
don't live anywhere.
Pages:
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55