Eagerly Nancy looked up into Sue's honest face.
“I'd do anything for you, Sue, because you were good to me when no one else was kind. You were working for Uncle Steve, and you were as afraid of him as I was, but you helped me, and you knew he'd be angry if he found it out.”
“Ye're a kind little thing; ye'd do it quick fer me, but it ain't fer me I'm askin',” Sue replied.
“Is it for the doctor who helped me to get well? I'd do something just as quick for him. Uncle Steve was going to make me dance when I was sick, but the big doctor said I shouldn't, and Uncle Steve didn't dare.”
As she spoke Nancy's clear brown eyes looked up into Sue's blue ones, and Sue's cheek flushed. She looked down at the sidewalk.
“It ain't fer the doctor,” she said; “he's gone ter Europe, but he's payin' my wages whilst he's gone, an' I'm stayin' with a woman what I worked fer before. Nancy, it's yer aunt I'm with, an' it's her that made me come!”
Nancy started back in terror. With frightened eyes she stared a moment at the girl, then turned to run.
“Oh, Nancy, Nancy! Come here!” cried Sue. “Ye don't understand.”
Nancy paused, but she did not take a step nearer.
Sue hastened towards her, and Nancy seemed about to run again.