"It was very kind of you to ask me to come!" the child responded gratefully.
"I think she does look a trifle pale," Mrs. Adams continued; "but come inside, come inside."
She led them into the parlour, a large comfortable room with dark oak furniture that showed off well against a blue wall-paper. There, in spite of Miss Holcroft and Miss Pamela's protestations, they were served with strawberries and clotted cream. Then Farmer Jo appeared on the scene, and they made such a merry, happy party that Marigold saw her aunts were sorry to leave.
"We shall trust to you, Mr. Adams, to bring Marigold back in time for school on Monday morning," Miss Pamela told Farmer Jo, after she and her sister were seated in the carriage ready to be driven home.
"You may rely upon me to do so, ma'am," he replied promptly.
"Thank you. You are very good. Good-bye, Mrs. Adams! Good-bye, Marigold."
The little girl sprang into the carriage and gave each of her aunts a kiss, then hopped out again, and stood between mother and son, smiling and nodding, as the carriage was driven away.
"Now what would you like to do this evening, my dear?" Mrs. Adams inquired. "Suppose I show you over the house first of all?"
"And when you've done that, mother, I'll take her around the place out-of-doors," her son suggested. "You'd like to see the farm buildings, wouldn't you?" he added, turning to Marigold, who acquiesced readily.
Accordingly Mrs. Adams led the way into the house and upstairs to a low-ceilinged room, in the centre of which stood a large four-post bed. A servant—a cherry-cheeked damsel whom her mistress addressed as Sally—had already unpacked Marigold's portmanteau, and was leaving the room as they entered.