The child said yes.
The milk arrived, and Nell having opened her little basket and selected the best pieces for her grandfather, they made a hearty meal.
"How far is it to a town or village?" she asked of the husband.
"A matter of a good five mile, my dear." was the reply; "but you're not going on to-night?"
"Yes, yes, Nell," said the old man hastily. "Farther on, farther on, darling; farther away, if we walk till midnight."
"There's a good barn hard by, master," said the man. "Excuse me, but you do seem a little tired, and unless you wish to get on—"
"Yes, yes, we do," said the old man fretfully.—"Farther away, dear Nell; pray, farther away."
"We must go on, indeed," said the child. "We thank you very much, but we cannot stop so soon.—I'm quite ready, grandfather."
But the woman had seen that one of Nell's little feet was blistered and sore, and she would not let her go until she had washed the place, which she did so carefully and with such a gentle hand that the child's heart was too full for her to say more than a fervent "God bless you!"
When they had left the cottage some distance behind Nell turned her head and saw that the whole family, even the old grandfather, were standing in the road, watching them as they went on their way; and so, with many waves of the hand and cheering nods, and on one side at least not without tears, they parted company.