And Aunt Rachel said no more, but walked rapidly along by Dick’s side, her mind full of horrible imaginings of Dolly, perhaps fallen from a tree, or in some other dreadful plight. When she reached the wood she saw the two little girls, seated on the flat stone, their arms about each other, and their faces red and tear-stained. Indeed, the big tears even now rolled down Dolly’s cheeks, as she saw the stern expression that came over Aunt Rachel’s face.
“Phyllis Middleton!” exclaimed the angry-looking lady; “what does this mean? You know you are forbidden to step foot on my property!”
“Yes’m,” began Phyllis, timidly, but Dick took the helm.
“Aunt Rachel,” he said, “I asked you to come out here, ’cause Phyllis wouldn’t go to the house. And I want to ask you to let her be Dolly’s friend; they love each other a heap.”
Then Aunt Rachel’s wrath was turned toward her niece.
“Dolly,” she said, severely, “you know I positively forbade you to speak to Phyllis Middleton.”
“Yes, Auntie; b-but I didn’t know it was Phyllis, when I first spoke to her.”
“Well, you know it now. Come away from her at once. Phyllis, go straight home, and don’t ever dare come here again.”
The case was hopeless.
Phyllis withdrew herself from Dolly’s embrace, and rose to go away.