CHAPTER VIII.
ANNIE LOVEJOY.
But the day was not over yet.

The bright sun and blue sky were doing what they could to make a cheerful time of it, but it seemed as if Susy fell more deeply into trouble, as the hours passed on.
There are such days in everybody's life, when it rains small vexations from morning till night, and when all we can do is to hope for better things to-morrow.
It was Wednesday; and in the afternoon, Flossy Eastman came over with a new game, and while the little girls, Flossy, Susy and Prudy were playing it, and trying their best to keep Dotty Dimple's prying fingers and long curls out of the way, in came Miss Annie Lovejoy.
This was a little neighbor, who, as the children sometimes privately declared, was "always 'round." Mrs.Parlin had her own private doubts about the advantages to be derived from her friendship, and had sometimes gone so far as to send her home, when she seemed more than usually in the way.
Annie's mother lived next door, but all Mrs.Parlin knew of her, was what she could see and hear from her own windows; and that little was not very agreeable.

She saw that Mrs.Love joy dressed in gaudy colors, and loaded herself with jewelry; and she could hear her scold her servants and children with a loud, shrill voice.
The two ladies had never exchanged calls; but Annie, it seemed, had few playmates, and she clung to Susy with such a show of affection, that Mrs.
Parlin could not forbid her visits, although she watched her closely; anxious, as a careful mother should be, to make sure she was a proper companion for her little daughter.

So far she had never known her to say or do anything morally wrong, though her manners were not exactly those of a well-bred little girl.
This afternoon, when the new game was broken up by the entrance of Annie, the children began the play of housekeeping, because Prudy could join in it.

Susy found she enjoyed any amusement much more when it pleased the little invalid.
"I will be the lady of the house," said Annie, promptly, "because I have rings on my fingers, and a coral necklace.