"Pamela, I hope I did not speak too plainly just now," Miss Holcroft commenced timidly, as the other resumed her woolwork. "Perhaps it was not my place to make such a remark. I had no right to judge your conduct. I fear you are displeased with me."
"No, I am not, Mary. Why should you not say what you think? You had a perfect right to express your opinion."
Miss Holcroft's face brightened at this, and she ventured to continue—
"Then you acknowledge we have been a little unjust to poor Rupert's widow?"
"Not at all. I acknowledge nothing of the kind. But I will allow that she has brought up Marigold carefully, if that is any satisfaction to you, Mary."
"I believe she is a good woman and a Christian, or she would not be so loved by her little daughter," Miss Holcroft said, with decision in her tones.
To this remark her sister made no reply, and presently changed the topic of conversation.
[CHAPTER IX]
MARIGOLD VISITS BARKER'S MOTHER
THE following Saturday afternoon Marigold accompanied Barker to pay a visit to the latter's mother. The little girl had received permission from her aunts to gather some flowers to take with her, and she had picked a bunch of roses and lilies of the valley, which later ornamented the centre of the tea-table in the old woman's tiny parlour. Marigold had never been in an almshouse before. The one where Mrs. Barker lived was one of a row, each having a strip of garden in front, with a narrow path through the middle leading to the door, which was painted bright green. The houses were all built exactly alike, but the individual tastes of the occupiers could be seen from even a casual scrutiny of the windows. In one hung a canary in a brass cage; in another flowering plants showed between snowy muslin curtains; whilst other windows had a neglected appearance, the curtains hanging limp, and in some cases drab with dirt; one or two had merely under-blinds and no curtains at all.