She counted on her fingers. One, two, three--sixteen. "I don't know anything about it! Be quiet! You're a magpie--nothing but chatter, chatter, chatter!" and he didn't speak them--he growled them. So he can't care. I shall come, Chris,'--pressing close to my mother coaxingly--'and we'll take a nice long walk.'
'Very well, my dear,' said my mother, with a smile; 'but I must ask your uncle, Chris.'
I mapped out in my mind the pleasantest walk I knew, and on the following night, when work was over, I hastened into the street; but neither my mother nor Jessie was there. I looked about for them, and waited for a quarter of an hour, and then raced home. Only my mother was in the house.
'Why didn't you come, mother?' I asked. 'I've been waiting ever so long. And where's Jessie?'
'My dear,' replied my mother, with her arm around my waist, 'Jessie has gone.'
'Gone! Oh, for a walk with uncle Bryan, I suppose?'
'No, my dear; she has gone away altogether.'
[CHAPTER XIV.]
THE WORLD BECOMES BRIGHT AGAIN.
'Gone away altogether!'