Lettie nodded with some energy.
"Once there was a lady who had two little girls. One was called Josie, and one was called Vi. She was very very fond of them both, and they used to live with her in the beautiful country, among the grass, and the trees, and the flowers. But they came up to London sometimes, to an old house that belonged to the lady, though they never stayed long.
"And one day, while they were there, the two little girls were going out to tea with another kind lady. So nurse dressed them up, and Vi had on a very beautiful frock, which had been given her as a present. Then nurse took them out to walk to the lady's house; but on the way, there was a great crowd of people, and in the crowd, nurse all at once lost sight of little Vi. She looked for her, and hunted for her, but it was of no use. I think some wicked man, when he saw little Vi alone, must have carried her off for the sake of her pretty frock.
"Then nurse went home, and she cried a great deal, and the other little girl cried a great deal, and the poor mother cried most of all—oh, so much and so sadly. But no one could find little Vi. The lady said she could never leave London and go into the country again, until her little Vi was found, so she went on waiting, and hoping, and grieving, and no one could find her little Vi. And more than five long years passed away, and still the poor mother was sorrowful at the thought of her little lost child."
"Didn't she never be happy again?" asked Lettie.
"I think she will be happy soon. When I take home her little lost Vi to her this afternoon, I think she will be quite happy."
"And won't cry no more?"
"No,—no more, because she will be too glad to cry."
Then, after a pause, "Lettie, will you come home with me?"
Lettie shook her head.