“There are lots of poor people in Upwell, though,” said Philippa.
“That’s quite different,” said Dennis; “Upwell’s a town. I don’t suppose Aunt Katharine would let Maisie and me go about alone there as we do here.”
For the rest of Philippa’s visit she and Maisie were left a good deal to each other’s society, for Dennis was now entirely occupied with the building of the jackdaws’ house under Tuvvy’s advice and direction. One afternoon the two little girls were sitting together in the play-room, threading beads on horsehair to make a collar for Darkie.
“What made Dennis want to help Tuvvy?” asked Philippa suddenly. “Was it after he had carved that stick for him?”
“Why, no; of course not,” said Maisie. “Tuvvy did that because he was so much obliged to Dennis.”
“Well, then,” repeated Philippa, “why did Dennis take all that trouble for him?”
“He liked him,” said Maisie; “and when you like people, you want to please them, I suppose.”
“I don’t think I do,” said Philippa slowly; “I want them to please me.”
“But that isn’t fair,” said Maisie. “You ought to please them if they please you; even Darkie knows that. Aunt Katharine says,” she added, “that you ought to try to help people and be kind to them, whether they’re kind to you or not.”
Philippa shrugged her shoulders and seemed to have had enough of that subject, but although she was silent she thought it over in her mind. Maisie, meanwhile, was occupied with a very usual matter—the grey kitten’s fate. She was never tired of wondering where it was, who had found it, or whether it was alive at all, and as she had no news of it, the subject was likely to last a long time.