"You're having rather a hard time of it, aren't you dear?" said Miss Eloise.
"Oh, Miss Eloise, you don't know what sticks they are. I can't make the little girl say anything but yes and no, and the boy won't even say that much; we have all tried him."
[58] Miss Eloise laughed. "Do you think you could wheel me up closer?"
"Why, of course I shall be delighted to."
Edna seeing what was taking place, ran to help. "Oh, Miss Eloise," she cried, "are you coming to help us out?"
"I am going to try," she said smiling. And presently the strangers looked up to see a sweet face smiling at them from a nest of silken pillows.
It would be a rare child whom Miss Eloise could not entertain, and in a few moments Billy's round eyes removed their gaze from the passing ships while Mallie was a delighted listener to one of Miss Eloise's fascinating stories.
Time passed so rapidly under this treatment that when, in the course of half an hour, Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Ramsey came over to where the group sat, they found no one ready to move until the tale was done, so both ladies sat down to hear its close.
"Gee! but that was a fine story," said the hitherto silent Billy, when the end of the story came. "I wish you could tell 'em like that, Mother."
"Oh, my dear, I wish I could," returned Mrs. Potter. "What a gift you have, Miss Newman. I wish more children could have the privilege of hearing you. I quite envy Mrs. Ramsey such an institution as a self-working reciter of tales."