"Then it's me for the knitting work and the fire, I suppose," she finished, with a whimsicality that did not hide the wistful disappointment of her voice.
She was not knitting, however, she was sewing with Aunt Hannah when at four o'clock Rosa brought in the card.
Billy glanced at the name, then sprang to her feet with a glad little cry.
"It's Mary Jane!" she exclaimed, as Rosa disappeared.

"Now wasn't he a dear to think to come to-day?
You'll be down, won't you ?" Aunt Hannah smiled even while she frowned.
"Oh, Billy!" she remonstrated.

"Yes, I'll come down, of course, a little later, and I'm glad _Mr.Arkwright_ came," she said with reproving emphasis.
Billy laughed and threw a mischievous glance over her shoulder.
"All right," she nodded.

"I'll go and tell _Mr.Arkwright_ you'll be down directly." In the living-room Billy greeted her visitor with a frankly cordial hand.
"How did you know, Mr.Arkwright, that I was feeling specially restless and lonesome to-day ?" she demanded.
A glad light sprang to the man's dark eyes.
"I didn't know it," he rejoined.

"I only knew that I was specially restless and lonesome myself." Arkwright's voice was not quite steady.