CHAPTER VII
HOW CASSY TRIED TO MAKE A FIRE
Only once more did Cassy see Eleanor before she returned home after her Easter holiday, and that was one afternoon, which added another red letter day to Cassy’s calendar. Looking over the top of her geranium she saw standing before the door a shining carriage drawn by a pair of glossy bay horses, and presently she heard footsteps approaching the top floor, and then some one knocked. Cassy opened the door and there stood Eleanor.
“I have come to take you to drive,” she said. “It is such a nice afternoon to go to the park. Can you go?”
“Oh!” Cassy’s breath was almost taken by this announcement. “Come in,” she said, “and I will ask mother.”
Eleanor stepped into the room. It gave her a little shock to see how very plain it was, just as it had given her a shock to see the street in which Cassy lived. She had not realized that this little new friend was so very poor, although Rock had told her so. But it was pleasanter up on this top floor than it was below, she reflected. Then she heard Cassy saying, “Here’s mother,” and she stepped over to where Mrs. Law sat sewing.
“Aunt Dora was not going to use the carriage this afternoon, and she thought it would be nice for Cassy and me to take a little drive; it is such a lovely day, and I am going home to-morrow. May she go?” She looked with sympathetic eyes at Mrs. Law stitching away for dear life, and thought how she would dislike to see her mother work so hard.
Mrs. Law stopped the machine for a moment and looked up with a smile at Cassy’s eager face.
“It is very kind of Mrs. Dallas and you to want to give Cassy such a pleasure. I shall be glad to have her go, and I know she will enjoy it. Go get ready, dear.”
“Couldn’t you go, too?” Eleanor asked wistfully, looking at Mrs. Law’s pale cheeks.
“I am afraid not,” was the reply, “though I thank you for thinking of it. I must finish this work this evening. Won’t you sit down and wait? Cassy will not be long.”