Cherry found a clean, neatly-folded apron ready for her, and to her thinking it added to her appearance just the one thing she wanted.
She thanked Mrs. Seymour very gratefully, and ran down-stairs.
Many had been Meg's instructions the evening before as to how she was to clean the steps of the doctor's house, and Jem's hearth had been cleaned three times over, in order that Cherry should know properly how to do it.
As she hurried along the two or three streets which intervened between their house and the doctor's, she thought over all Meg had said, and hoped she should do it right.
It was a very nervous little girl who rang at the area bell, as the church clock near struck seven.
"Who are you?" asked the cook. "Ah, I know. Well, my dear, here's the pail and things; do it from outside, and I'll open the front door for you to begin on the top step. Here's the mat to kneel on. Don't you leave it out there, nor the broom, or they'll be walked off with."
Cherry promised, and waited while the cook went up-stairs to unfasten the door.
"Please," said Cherry, looking up with her candid eyes, "I'm not very used to making stones white, but mother-Meg says I shall do it much better in a day or two."
"All right; and if you don't quite know anythink, you just come to me, and I'll tell you."
Cherry began sweeping, and the cook went back to prepare her master's breakfast.