“Now you run to bed,” said the mistress, still sharply.
It was very well, Marilla thought, that Jack had a companion who was not fond of “kids.” Stevie lived quite a distance below and had brought no end of playthings, had an auto wagon that two could sit in, though only one could be chauffeur. So Marilla had the babies out on the side lawn all the morning in the shade, and after their nap took them out in the carriage. They were quite fond of walking, too. They really were rather amiable again.
“Miss Florence, could I have some paper and a pencil?” she asked during their noontide nap. “I promised to write to Dr. Richards and tell him if I kept well.”
“Why not to Miss Armitage?” was the inquiry.
“She was going to Canada, and—I’m quite well again, and the babies are so much better. He will be glad to hear, for he felt very sorry about them, and he said I must write.” 161
“I suppose Miss Armitage’s house is very grand, much finer than ours?”
“It’s beautiful and she has such a lovely organ. Well, it’s different and there are two big parlors and some curious things that I never saw before and chairs in beautiful light blue, all flowered, and some tall vases and marble statues. And there’s Jane and Norah—and the wash goes out. Yes, I suppose she’s rich.”
“And you’d like to live there?”
“Perhaps she wouldn’t want me,” the child said simply.
Evidently there had been no talk about it.