Nell sat down to wait patiently enough; then saw what she had not noticed previously—a bundle in a rug lying on a bench behind the door, which a closer inspection revealed to be Sonny Russell, curled up, fast asleep and rosy.
“What a dear little fellow he is!” she exclaimed, when presently Gertrude turned to give her a warm welcome.
“Oh, Sonny is a darling! His father generally brings him here to stay with me when he is called away on a long journey, because the child frets if he is left too much with old Miss Gibson. They board with her, you know,” explained Gertrude.
“How are Teddy and the baby, and Flossie and Patsey?” asked Nell, whose heart still yearned for the big family for whom she had toiled so unweariedly.
Gertrude’s face grew overcast. “The children are well enough; even Flossie seems better this spring. Father is not well—he does not get strong nor does he lose his cough, and mother seems poorly too; neither of them is able to get over the shock of losing the boys. It is very sad for them.”
“What a pity they did not let you stay at home to comfort them!” cried Nell, warmly.
“I thought so at first, and was very loth to leave home, but I am very glad now that I came,” Gertrude said softly, while a rosy flush spread over her face and right up to the roots of her hair.
Nell looked at her in a little surprise. Gertrude was usually so pale and calm of aspect. But there was no time then for discovering the secret of her agitation.
The evening was so pleasant, and the Sunday which followed pleasanter still. There were one or two changes in Bratley, even in the six weeks since Nell had gone away. It seemed funny to her to see Dr. Russell walking along to meeting with little old Miss Gibson, who had never had any one to board before, although her house was one of the largest in Bratley. Then a family had gone away, another family having come in their place, and actually a new house was to be built at the end of the village.
“It looks as if we were going to be prosperous in Bratley,” Gertrude said merrily, as, when meeting was over, she and Nell sauntered away together.