"She is so shy," said Margaret apologetically, "we have quite a trouble with her sometimes; but we do love her so dearly!" And she fondly kissed the fair little neck, and held her close to her.
"I suppose I am warm now," said Ada, rising; "but your heath is bitterly cold at the open part there, Margaret."
"But very healthy," added Margaret.
Ada made her way once more over the top of the heath—"the abode of the zephyrs," she told Christina it ought to be called—and soon found herself in the midst of the shops.
After walking up and down for a few minutes, she was touched on the hand by a little girl, and was quickly drawn into a draper's shop, where she found Christina seated, while close to her, with very stolid countenance, Alfy Ross was perched, watching the proceedings gravely and without surprise.
"Here you are," exclaimed Ada; "I began to think I should miss you after all."
"It was Maggie spied you; she always knows what is going on, don't you, Maggie?"
Maggie answered by a little smile; then Christina counted her change, and they all turned homewards.
When they entered the hall at Sunnyside, Christina told the children to go at once to the play-room.
"I don't want to," said Alfy, making towards the dining-room.