Hecla was allowed to leave her lessons and to play with Ivy, and she did her very best. She brought her toys and sat on the ground putting them out, and making lavish presents to the younger girl of anything that Ivy seemed to admire. A good while passed pleasantly thus, and then, when Ivy began to cry suddenly for "Mummie!" Miss Anne came and sat down with them on the floor, and comforted her and told one or two funny stories to make her smile.
"Now I think we might go for a walk," she said. "What do you think, Ivy? Wouldn't that be nice?"
Hecla bounded up.
"And oh, auntie, may I button all the buttonholes?" she cried.
Miss Anne laughed at the droll way in which she expressed herself, and Ivy asked seriously—
"Why-because does she want?"
Hecla gave Ivy a rapturous hug.
"Oh, you dear little pet!" she cried. "Auntie, may we go down by the river? I want to show Ivy the bridge-part, and how boats go under and out again."
"Yes, I think we can go there."
Hecla danced upstairs, turning round every other step to explain about the river and the "bridge-part," as she called it, and Ivy followed slowly, step by step, holding Miss Anne's hand. Hecla was allowed to stand by, while Aunt Anne put on little Ivy's pretty blue walking-frock and blue hat.