The little girls looked doubtfully at each other. “I’m not sure,” said Lucy, “whether that that would be considered an improving book.”
Susan proceeded to make more inquiries about the various societies, but she did not think any of them sounded attractive, and certainly had no wish to join the little Winslows in belonging to them. This filled up the time until four o’clock, when, with Miss Pink, they all set out on their walk to Belmont Cottage. Susan was surprised to see that each little girl was provided with a hoop, which was the nearest approach to a toy of any kind that she had observed during her visit.
“We always take hoops out in the afternoon until the month of May,” explained Lucy. “Mother considers the exercise healthy.”
It was such a relief to Susan to feel that the visit was over, and that she was really going back, that she could not walk quite soberly with Miss Pink, but danced along the parade by little Eva’s side as she bowled her hoop, and was almost inclined to sing aloud with pleasure. There were a great many people about, and quite a crowd of carriages, and soon in the distance they saw Mrs Winslow’s black horses approaching. She had left Margaretta at Belmont Cottage, and was now returning. Just as the carriage passed, Eva, who was staring at her mother, gave her hoop a blow which sent it in the wrong direction, and it trundled out into the middle of the road, almost under the horses’ feet. Not quite, however, for Susan, who was watching it, sprang after it and caught it away just in time. Mrs Winslow nodded and smiled at the children, the carriage drove on, and Susan carried the hoop back to the path where the little Winslows were drawn up in a row with very serious faces.
“You might have been run over,” said Lucy gravely.
“I didn’t think about it,” said Susan.
“Mother says,” continued Lucy, “Always think before you act.”
“My dear,” interrupted Miss Pink hastily, “Susan has done very well. There are exceptions to every rule.”
When Susan reached home she found Sophia Jane still sitting up, and eager to hear all the news about the visit. She at once inquired if the Winslows were “horrid;” but Susan would not quite say that. “They were very kind to her and very good, but—” she added, “I haven’t enjoyed myself a bit, and I never want to go there again or see them any more.”
“I told you so,” said Sophia Jane, and she gave herself a hug of satisfaction.