Any one who had ever known Arabella Corryville would also have known that she always looked decidedly odd and strange, and it was Arabella who was marching steadily along the road.
So determined was her tread that one might have thought that there was a band behind her playing martial music to which she was obliged to keep step.
"Well, whoever she is, she's carrying an umbrella, this pleasant day," murmured Floretta; then as she came near, she added:
"And wearing rubbers and a raincoat, as true as I live!"
Arabella was more bundled and wrapped than at first appeared, for, as she came up the gravel walk, Floretta saw that a long veil was closely tied over her hat, and wound about her throat.
From her appearance one might have thought that she expected freezing weather before night.
She walked up on to the piazza, and then stood, for a moment, looking about, as if in search of some one.
It was not politeness that prompted Floretta to speak. It was simply curiosity. She was wild to know who the strange-looking child was, and whom she wished to see.
"Are you looking for some one?" she asked, at the same time slipping from the hammock, and going so close to Arabella that she could peep into the queer little face.