And she tossed a smudged envelope to the ground, directed in Doss Umpey’s straggling writing, to “Miss Nell Umpey, at Blue Bird Ridge.”
It was really too bad, and poor Nell could have cried with vexation, that her grandfather, who was too lazy to spell his own name properly, should call her by it also. But when she had read the letter, she was thankful indeed that he had not addressed her by her right name.
“Dear Nell (so ran the letter),
“You will be surprised to hear that I have sold the Lone House and the furniter to Joe Gunnage and his wife, and they are going to live there. Mrs. G. says you can stop on as hired gal if you like. But if you are wise and have got enuff pluck, you’ll just git over the border into Canada as quick as you can; you are safe to do better there than in the States. I’d have sent you some money if I could, but the fac is I’m desperate hard-up all along of harbouring wipers in my buzzom as have warmed up and stung me. But I’m hopin’ to get on to something good soon, then I’ll look you up and help you. Meanwhile don’t you let on to no one what I’ve told you, nor nothin’ about me, as I don’t want the perlice to get interested in what I’m doing.
“Doss Umpey.”
Nell was so long in getting at the sense of the old man’s badly written letter that by the time she had done, the three horses had all been unladen and hobbled so that they could feed in the open space before the house, and the woman was carrying the bundles in at the door, assisted by the children.
“Have you come here to live?” asked Nell, in a bewildered tone.
Although she had read the letter, she could not yet comprehend its meaning, or realize that the old life was gone, and that she was suddenly thrust upon her own resources, with no one to care what became of her.
“It looks like it, don’t you think?” said the woman, with another cackling laugh. “Now then, girl, what’s your name—Nell? Don’t stand there staring as if you was short-witted; stir round lively, and help me get these things inside.”
Nell came to assist in a half-mechanical fashion, still doubting the evidence of her own senses. The man and the big boy had not spoken to her, had hardly glanced in her direction indeed, but were absorbed in looking round their new premises, grumbling loudly because the clearing about the house was not so big as they had supposed.