CHAPTER III
The Neighbor of the Yellow House
Every morning after this Jessie went down to the brook to play with Playmate Polly. Charity soon recovered from her illness, Dr. Bramble’s medicine being the very thing for her, and she was able to enjoy her share of the scrapings of marmalade which Jessie ate for her from the big preserving-kettle. Mrs. Mooky called frequently, and so did other persons. Jessie made the acquaintance of a lively cricket which lived under the big stone that she was accustomed to call her house, and she also had several conversations with a fat toad which would come out and blink at her on mild days. Still it was Playmate Polly whom Jessie liked the best. She kept the knowledge of this queer friend a secret from everybody, and for that very reason probably enjoyed her the more.
One afternoon, however, when she and Polly had been having a particularly interesting talk, Jessie heard a laugh from the other side of the brook, and looking up quickly she saw a little girl with very black hair and eyes, astride a fallen log. “Hello!” said the little girl.
Jessie looked at her interestedly. “Hello!” she responded. She had never seen the little girl before;—not at church, nor on the road, nor anywhere, and she wondered who she could be. “Who are you?” she asked presently, “and how did you get over there?”
“I’m Adele Pauline Falaise Hallett,” was the reply, “and I got here by walking.”
“Goodness! what a long name,” said Jessie. “Do you live near here?”
“Yes, I live in the yellow house this side the bridge.”
“Oh, I know now,” returned Jessie; “you’re the new people. Did you come through the woods or by the road?”
“Through the woods. What’s your name?”
“Jessie Loomis.”