Poor little soul!--a pretty place this is ter put a homesick, lonesome child into!" she finished, going out and closing the door with a bang, "Oh!" she ejaculated, biting her lip.

Then, doggedly: "Well, I don't care.

I hope she did hear the bang,--I do, I do!" In the garden that afternoon, Nancy found a few minutes in which to interview Old Tom, who had pulled the weeds and shovelled the paths about the place for uncounted years.
"Mr.Tom," began Nancy, throwing a quick glance over her shoulder to make sure she was unobserved; "did you know a little girl was comin' here ter live with Miss Polly ?" "A--what ?" demanded the old man, straightening his bent back with difficulty.
"A little girl--to live with Miss Polly." "Go on with yer jokin'," scoffed unbelieving Tom.

"Why don't ye tell me the sun is a-goin' ter set in the east ter-morrer ?" "But it's true.

She told me so herself," maintained Nancy.