After that they grew quite friendly. She told him about her uncle, and aunt, and six cousins, and gave him a glowing account of the nursery gardens. He listened, much interested.
"You'll find it a change here," he remarked; "there's no garden to this house, and you have to walk a good step before you get into the country."
At that moment Mr. Harding's voice broke in upon their conversation.
"Monday! Are you going to sit over your tea all night? Come and take charge of the shop whilst I go to the post office."
John Monday rose, and pushed back his chair, contorting his face into a hideous grimace.
"Coming, sir!" he made answer, and hurriedly joined his master.
When Maria came in to fetch away the tea-things Mousey timidly asked if she could help, but was told there was no necessity.
"You can come and see my kitchen," Maria said kindly, noticing a shade of disappointment on the child's face.
This Mousey was very glad to do, and she was delighted to find the kitchen a much pleasanter room than the parlour. The tins on the mantelshelf shone like silver, and a copper warming-pan, hanging from a nail against the wall, was so bright that you could see your reflection in it, whilst a tall clock with a brass face ticked in a companionable way.
Mousey did not see Mr. Harding again that night, for, after spending an hour with Maria, she complained of being very tired, and, Maria suggesting the advisability of her going to bed, she fell in with the idea at once.