As Nan and Bess approached this “ogress’ castle,” as the girls called Mrs. Cupp’s room, a tall, thin lady was going in ahead of them. She had on her coat and hat and was evidently a visitor from outside.
“Dear me! who’s that?” whispered Nan, to her chum.
“Oh! I know,” Bess replied eagerly. “One of the girls pointed her out to me on the street and I never could forget that funny, old-fashioned hat.”
“Well!” exclaimed Nan, hanging back, “who is she?”
“Mrs. Cupp’s sister. She lives alone in the village. She’s a milliner. That’s why she wears such an awful hat, I suppose,” giggled Bess. “By the same token shoemakers’ wives go almost barefoot.”
“Hush!” breathed Nan.
The visitor’s high-pitched, querulous voice reached their ears plainly, for she had not taken pains to close the door.
“Well, now, Ida, what did I tell you?” she began. “He’s back again.”
“Goodness! how you startled me, Sadie Vane,” was Mrs. Cupp’s response. She had evidently been sitting at her desk with her back to the door.
“You’ll be more startled, Ida Cupp, when you hear what I have to tell you,” Miss Vane went on to say hurriedly.