Probably Mrs. Bolton believed too that a man's mind was agile enough for
these conjectures; but she said she did not suppose he would take it in
that way; she added that he stayed longer than she expected, because the
little girl seemed to like it so much; she always cried when she had to go
away.
"Do you mean that she's attached to the place?" demanded Annie.
"Well, yes, she is," Mrs. Bolton admitted. "And the cat."
Annie had a great desire to tell Mrs. Bolton that she had behaved very
stupidly. But she knew Mrs. Bolton would not stand that, and she had to
content herself with saying, severely, "The next time he comes, let me know
without fail, please. What is the child like?" she asked.
"Well, I guess it must favour the mother, if anything. It don't seem to
take after him any."
"Why don't you have it here often, then," asked Annie, "if it's so much
attached to the place?"
"Well I didn't know as you wanted to have it round," replied Mrs. Bolton
bluntly.
Annie made a "Tchk!" of impatience with her obtuseness, and asked, "Where
is Mr. Peck staying?"
"Well, he's staying at Mis' Warner's till he can get settled."
"Is it far from here?"
"It's down in the north part of the village--Over the Track."
"Is Mr. Bolton at home?"
"Yes, he is," said Mrs. Bolton, with the effect of not intending to deny
it.
"Then I want him to hitch up--now--at once--right away--and go and get the
child and bring her here to dinner with me." Annie got so far with her
severity, feeling that it was needed to mask a proceeding so romantic,
perhaps so silly. She added timidly, "Can he do it?"
"I d'know but what he can," said Mrs. Bolton, dryly, and whatever her
feeling really was in regard to the matter, her manner gave no hint of it.
Annie did not know whether Bolton was going on her errand or not, from Mrs.
Bolton, but in ten or twelve minutes she saw him emerge from the avenue
into the street, in the carry-all, tightly curtained against the storm.
Half an hour later he returned, and his wife set down in the library a
shabbily dressed little girl, with her cheeks bright and her hair curling
from the weather, and staring at Annie, and rather disposed to cry. She
said hastily, "Bring in the cat, Mrs. Bolton; we're going to have the cat
to dinner with us."