She went towards the kitchen with a shake of the head and a short laugh, as if she had some inward cause for amusement.
“Betty seems to like having a sprain,” said Nancy, looking at her over the balusters. “I never saw her look so pleased or laugh so much.”
Miss Unity’s welcome was quite as hearty as Betty’s, but she too seemed a little odd, and inclined to give nervous glances at the door as though she expected some one to come in.
“Would you like us to go and help Betty bring up tea?” asked Nancy, noticing this. “We should like it tremendously if you would let us.”
She started up as she spoke, and would have rushed down-stairs in another moment, if Miss Unity had not caught hold of her hand.
“No, my dear; no, thank you; certainly not,” she said hurriedly. “Betty has some one to help her.”
A little disappointed, Nancy sat down again. Her eyes fell on the parcel she held, and she frowned at Pennie to draw her attention to it. Pennie was looking dreamily round the sitting-room with all its old familiar objects. She wondered where Kettles’ clothes, which she had left on the side-table, had been put. What a long time it seemed since she had sat sewing in that high-backed chair! Brought back to the present by Nancy’s deeply frowning glance, she gave a little start and said hurriedly:
“Nancy and I have brought some new boots and stockings for Kettles. May we give them to her with the clothes?”
“And will she be at the College?” put in Nancy, “or can we go to Anchor and Hope Alley?”
Miss Unity’s head gave another nervous jerk in the direction of the door. She had heard a footstep coming upstairs, which was not Betty’s.