CHAPTER XX
A STRANGE KIND OF PREACHING
The afternoon Mrs. Marchant came into "Love's Hospital," Bessie was very excited. Mrs. Marchant had previously sent word of her intended visit.
"Are you pleased your mother is coming?" whispered Nanna to Bessie as they met on the stairs.
"Of course,—but you might as well ask a magpie if it liked black and white feathers."
"Well, don't act like a magpie, if you can help it, there's a dear," and Nanna patted the girl's cheek lovingly.
Nanna saw to it that it was a specially grand tea, being anxious that their neighbour should realise they were desirous of doing her honour. To grace the occasion still further Nanna wore her Sunday gown and black silk apron; and Phebe, catching the contagion, put on a light coloured cashmere dress which Nanna had presented her with, having specially commissioned a traveller to buy it while on a visit to Paris.
Bessie did not dare to do anything extra in the way of smartening herself up, except putting a red flower in her dress, for fear her mother should openly chide her for her extravagance. And that would be dreadful, if she did it before Reynolds—or—D.J.!
"Do you think there is any chance that Mrs. Marchant will think we are trying to show off?" Phebe asked Nanna. "I should be so sorry if she did."