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She has not been used to boys, and might find them a little rough and noisy." Pennie drew herself up a little. It would be rather nice to have a friend of her very own, and already she saw herself Ethelwyn's sole support and adviser.
"We will buy him," said Ethelwyn, at the end of the consultation. There was a moment of hesitation, and then the yellow bundle went into Ethelwyn's outstretched arms. Beth went off to get the money. She ran breathlessly down the street to get the change, she was so afraid the girl would change her mind and take back the baby.
"Hose supporters, dear child," corrected Ethelwyn with the exasperating air that always roused Beth's wrath. "This cottage," mother hastened to say, while she untangled the buckles with one hand and buttoned Ethelwyn's waist with the other, "belongs to Mrs. Stevens and her daughter, Dorothy. I have known them for years.
"If she would only go out of the room," thought the child, "I'd make him wag his head in a minute, whatever Pennie said." Curiously enough Bridget appeared at the door just then with a message. "If you please, ma'am," she said, "could Cook speak to you in the kitchen about the preserving?" Now was Ethelwyn's opportunity, and she lost no time.
Birth days, Earth days, Seem very few; Year days, Dear days, When life is new. By constant and hard work, the house was ready for occupancy on Ethelwyn's birthday. Two or three days before it was finished, Nan's mother came over, the melancholy look on her face somewhat lifted. She brought with her the deed of the land adjoining the cottage and sloping down to the sea.
It was so loud that it sounded a long way up the road; and Ethelwyn's favourite remark, "How very vulgar!" did not disguise it in the least. The first day at Nearminster was fine and bright, and the children found plenty to entertain them. It was all new to Ethelwyn; and to Pennie, although she knew them so well, every object had an ever fresh interest.
But Ethelwyn's face gave so little response, that I felt at once how dreadful a thing it was not to have had a good father or mother. I do not know what would have become of me but for a good father. I wonder how anybody ever can be good that has not had a good father. How dreadful not to be a good father or good mother!
One was, that this was Ethelwyn's birthday, and the other, that they had to go away the next day. In the evening, however, there was a birthday cake, with eight candles on it. Then they had the fun of opening the box from Japan. There was a whole family of quaint dolls for Elizabeth, labeled by Dorothy's husband, "Heathen dolls: never baptized."
So she was Ethelwyn's closest companion in those days, and even began to imitate what she considered her elegant manners. She spoke mincingly, and took short little stiff steps in walking, and bent her head gracefully when she said, "Yes, please," or "No, thank you." The new plush bonnet was a misery to her, and she sighed to be beautifully dressed.
Pennie could not explain why it was, but she felt as if she had never really been at home during Ethelwyn's visit to Easney, and was now going back again the real old Pennie once more. So she only hugged her sister for reply, and both the little girls went and sat in the window-seat together, while their mother and Miss Unity were talking.
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