She disappeared into Mrs. Munson’s room, donned her blue merino dress and the bonnet with the pink roses; then, because there was a stiff breeze blowing, and she was hot from her labours at bread-making, she flung the black silk cape with the bead trimming round her shoulders, and fairly held her breath with awe at the grandeur of her own appearance.
A little sigh escaped her because her shoes were so worn, but they were very black and shiny, which hid their shabbiness a little.
When her toilet was completed, she took up her bundle and went back to the outer room, where Dr. Shaw sat talking to Mrs. Munson.
“Well, of all the surprising things! Why, what made you turn yourself into such an old woman?” he asked, with a disapproving look at the bonnet and cloak, which were better fitted in point of age for Mrs. Munson.
“Don’t I look right? I’m very sorry, but I haven’t got anything else to wear,” Nell said; then added, with a ripple of laughter, “But perhaps the folks will like me all the better if I look old. They will think I’m the more able to do things.”
“They will soon find that out without any telling,” the doctor said, as he pushed back his chair and rose to go.
Mrs. Munson, who had all this time been fumbling with a yellow canvas money-bag now asked, in a rather acid tone—
“How much am I in your debt, Miss Hamblyn, for the work you’ve done?”
An astonished look came into Nell’s dark eyes, and she answered impulsively—
“Why, you are not in my debt at all, of course; and I am very much obliged to you for letting me stay.”