"Maybe they don't think nothin' o' the kind," said Job. "What's come over ye, lad, to be so cantank'rous,—'cept that ye've lost a little sister as you've had awhile, an' she's got a deal happier home than you'd ever ha' give her? Well, well, 'tis hard for ye, but ye'd best take it brave an' patient. Grumblin' don't do nobody any good,—eh?" as he smiled at Ailie.
[CHAPTER XXIV.]
VISITORS.
"AIN'T that somebody at the door, gran'father?" exclaimed Ailie, jumping up.
"See if it be, deary."
And Ailie opened without delay. But there she turned shy, for before her stood a strange gentleman, and on one side of him was the very same little girl who had twice spoken to her in the street, and on the other side of him was Lettie herself, dressed in a warm blue frock, and fur-trimmed jacket, and pretty hat.
"Well, my little woman, is your name Ailie Carter?" asked the gentleman kindly. "Lettie, I think this is an old friend of yours."
Ailie looked very much afraid of Lettie, and Lettie looked hardly less afraid of Ailie, while the gentleman went on, "How is your grandfather?"