“Would you mind telling me, ma’am, who you are? Miss Hamblyn was expecting a Miss Alfreton in a few days, but you are not——” Here Mrs. Peters came to a full stop in some confusion, not knowing quite how to express herself.
“I am not Miss Alfreton, but her sister,” explained the lady, with a smile. “Miss Alfreton has gone east in a great hurry to meet some friends she has not seen for years, so I came instead. My son is taking holiday in the neighbourhood, and I thought it would be pleasant to be near him. Ah, is this Miss Lorimer?” she asked, under her breath, as Gertrude came in at the gate, followed by Flossie and the two small boys.
Little Abe was not nearly school age yet; but as he always wanted to go where Teddy went, Gertrude used to take him across to the school-house, where he was in no one’s way, and always seemed to enjoy himself.
“Yes, it is Miss Lorimer,” said Mrs. Peters, feeling that she had somehow bungled the matter of introduction, because she had been unable to make the ceremony more complete owing to her ignorance of the lady’s name.
Gertrude flushed a little at the sight of a stranger, and a nervous look came into her eyes as she remembered that Nell was not at home to help her in entertaining the unexpected visitor.
The lady moved towards her with an easy grace, holding out a friendly hand.
“I must apologize for taking you by storm in this fashion. My sister, Miss Alfreton, had a letter from Miss Hamblyn saying that you had room for a boarder; but my sister was obliged to change her plans quite suddenly, so I have come instead, and my name is Bronson—Mrs. Bronson.”
“We are very pleased to have you; and I hope you will be quite comfortable with us, although we live very simply, and are quite primitive people,” Gertrude said, regaining her courage all at once, because of the friendliness of the lady’s manner.
“Then I can stay? That is a great comfort!” exclaimed Mrs. Bronson, with an air of relief. Then she promptly turned her attention to Flossie and the other children, and made friends in such a charming fashion that they were speedily won from their shyness.
“Perhaps you would like a meal of some kind at once?” suggested Gertrude, in rather anxious query, and wondering what Mrs. Bronson would think of them and their way of living, for she was plainly used to moving in good society.