"Oh, I shall be glad to!" with a joyful smile.
Aunt Elizabeth entered. Cousin Winthrop presented his petition that he should take Doris over this afternoon and bring her back on Wednesday, unless there was to be no school all the week.
"I'm afraid she will bother Recompense. You're so little used to children. I keep my hand in with grandchildren," smilingly.
"No word from Betty yet? About Doris now—oh, you need not be afraid; I think Recompense is quite in the notion."
"Well, if you think best. Doris isn't a mite of trouble, I will say that. No, we can't hear from Betty before to-morrow. Mr. Eastman thought likely he'd find someone coming right back from Springfield, and I charged Betty to send if she could. I'm glad there has been no snow so far."
"Very fair winter weather. How is Foster and business?"
"Desperately dull, both of them," and Mrs. Leverett gave a piquant nod that would have done Betty credit.
"Go get your other clothes, Doris, and Martha will see to you. And two white aprons. Recompense keeps her house as clean as a pink, and you couldn't get soiled if you rolled round the floor. But dirt doesn't stick to Doris. There, run along, child."
Martha scrubbed her rigorously, and then helped her dress. She came back bright as a new pin, with her two high-necked aprons in her hand, and her nightgown, which Aunt Elizabeth put in her big black camlet bag.
"I wish you'd see that she studies a little, Winthrop. She is so behind in some things."