Mrs Solace smiled at Becky with the same sort of comfortable pride as when she looked at a remarkably fine brood of turkeys.
“She’s picking up a bit,” she said; “but it’s early days yet. We’ll see how she looks after she’s been here a month. I shouldn’t wonder if she gets as hearty as Miss Maisie yonder.—Have you told Miss Maisie, Becky, what we’re going to make of you, when you get quite strong and well?”
Becky looked shyly down at her plate. It was impossible to answer with so many people waiting to hear.
“Well, well, she’ll tell you presently, I daresay,” said Mrs Solace, as she moved away with Dr Price’s huge figure plunging along beside her.
“What did Mrs Solace mean?” asked Maisie eagerly, when they were out of hearing.
“It’s about the chickens,” said Becky. “I like ’em ever so much, and Mrs Solace said this morning that some day she’d ask mother to let me come and bide here and look after ’em; but I’ve got to get strong, and grow a bit first.”
“Well!” exclaimed Dennis enviously, “you are in luck!”
“I should earn wages, like Dan,” said Becky.
“I only wish I had the chance of working on the farm,” said Dennis; “but Aunt Katharine says I must go to school, and all sorts of things, first.”
“What would you like to be, if you could?” asked Philippa.