came bringing the stocking she was always knitting when she was doing
nothing else.
What s the matter with thee? she asked as soon as they sat down.
Tha looks as if tha d somethin to say.
I have. I have found out what the crying was, said Mary.
Martha let her knitting drop on her knee and gazed at her with startled
eyes.
Tha hasn t! she exclaimed. Never!
I heard it in the night, Mary went on. And I got up and went to see
where it came from. It was Colin. I found him.
Martha s face became red with fright.
Eh! Miss Mary! she said half crying. Tha shouldn t have done
it tha shouldn t! Tha ll get me in trouble. I never told thee nothin
about him but tha ll get me in trouble. I shall lose my place and
what ll mother do!
You won t lose your place, said Mary. He was glad I came. We talked
and talked and he said he was glad I came.
Was he? cried Martha. Art tha sure? Tha doesn t know what he s
like when anything vexes him. He s a big lad to cry like a baby, but
when he s in a passion he ll fair scream just to frighten us. He knows
us daren t call our souls our own.
He wasn t vexed, said Mary. I asked him if I should go away and he
made me stay. He asked me questions and I sat on a big footstool and
talked to him about India and about the robin and gardens. He wouldn t
let me go. He let me see his mother s picture. Before I left him I sang
him to sleep.
Martha fairly gasped with amazement.
I can scarcely believe thee! she protested. It s as if tha d walked
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