Miss Graham did not seem to single out Ethel Blue for particular attention. They naturally drifted together when there was a large party, because their tastes were similar.
"I think your aunt Daisy is nicer than any aunt in the world except my aunt Marion," Ethel Blue confided to Margaret one day.
"That's just about what James and I think," said Margaret.
"Has she finished her Englewood house?" inquired Ethel.
"Yes, that was done some time ago. That's why she has been able to go to see Mrs. Smith so many times recently. She has spent several afternoons at Sweetbrier Lodge, you know."
Remembering this, Ethel Blue went to the new house one afternoon especially to see if Miss Graham was there. She had no definite reason for doing so--she merely thought she would like to see her. By good luck Miss Graham was there, as she had brought out some samples of hangings to show to Mrs. Smith, and she was waiting on the terrace for her to come, and resting as she waited.
"I'm glad to see you, child," she called to Ethel Blue, and Ethel did not resent being called a child, for she realized that it was merely an endearing word coming from Miss Daisy's lips.
"Bring one of those canvas chairs over here beside me," she urged, "and we'll look at the view and talk a while."
"Isn't it going to be lovely when the real furniture is on the terrace here?" said Ethel Blue eagerly.
"The view is lovely, no matter what the chairs are," returned Miss Graham, smiling at her affectionately. "When do you think your aunt is coming?"
"I don't know. Did she expect you? Shall I run back to the house and tell her you are here?"
"No, probably I'm a little early and I shall enjoy sitting here and talking with you until she comes."
Ethel felt much complimented by this desire on Miss Graham's part and placed her chair beside her.
Their eyes looked out across the field with its brook and the trees that sheltered Mr. Emerson's house. Across the street the meadows, rich with the field flowers of late summer, stretched away towards the distant river, and beyond that were more trees rearing their heights across the sky.
As they looked a shadow fell on the meadow and moved swiftly across it.
"It looks as if some huge birds were flying between the earth and the sun," smiled Miss Daisy.