She strolled down the driveway, intending to wait at the great gate for her playmates to appear.
The gates were wide open, and as Nancy looked out, some one rushed past her. The plainly dressed young woman turned to look at the little girl.
"Oh, Nancy!" she cried, and "Why, Sue!" cried Nancy.
"D'ye live in that el'gant place Nancy? Why, it looks like er palace!"
"Mrs. Dainty lives there, and I'm there 'most all the time playing with Dorothy. I live in that dear little stone cottage with Aunt Charlotte," Nancy said, "but Sue, how happened you to be here? Aren't you working for the doctor?"
"Nancy, I come _purpose_ ter see yer," said the girl, bending to look into Nancy's face; "I wondered if you'd remember me."
"Oh, how _could_ I forget you, Sue? It was you who used to be kind to me when Uncle Steve was cross, and when I was sick you sent my little note to Aunt Charlotte so that she and Mrs. Dainty came for me."
"I done what I could for yer, Nancy, an' now I've come ter ax yer ter do somethin' that I'm 'fraid ye won't want ter do."
Eagerly Nancy looked up into Sue's honest face.
"I'd do _anything_ for you, Sue, because you were good to me when no one else was kind. You were working for Uncle Steve, and you were as afraid of him as I was, but you helped me, and you knew he'd be angry if he found it out."
"Ye're a kind little thing; ye'd do it quick fer me, but it ain't fer me I'm askin'," Sue replied.
"Is it for the doctor who helped me to get well? I'd do something just as quick for him. Uncle Steve was going to _make_ me dance when I was sick, but the big doctor said I shouldn't, and Uncle Steve didn't dare."
As she spoke Nancy's clear brown eyes looked up into Sue's blue ones, and Sue's cheek flushed. She looked down at the sidewalk.
"It ain't fer the doctor," she said; "he's gone ter Europe, but he's payin' my wages whilst he's gone, an' I'm stayin' with a woman what I worked fer before. Nancy, it's yer aunt I'm with, an' it's her that made me come!"
Nancy started back in terror. With frightened eyes she stared a moment at the girl, then turned to run.
"Oh, Nancy, Nancy! Come here!" cried Sue. "Ye don't understand."
Nancy paused, but she did not take a step nearer.
Sue hastened towards her, and Nancy seemed about to run again.