"So that is Melina Berryman," Mrs. Brown said to herself; "what a shame of those boys to tease the poor child like that!"
She began to retrace her footsteps, intending to interfere; but at that instant the little girl reached her home, and, turning on the doorstep, faced her tormentors, her lips firmly closed, though her eyes were full of tears and her cheeks crimson. For a minute she looked at the boys steadily, in silence; the next she opened the door and disappeared within the cottage, whilst the boys, seeing Mrs. Brown intended to reprimand them, immediately made off.
Mrs. Brown stood outside the closed door of the Berrymans' cottage, which was next to the one which she had seen Mr. Blackmore enter, and waited. Presently a blue-eyed, fair-haired boy came whistling round the corner of the street. He glanced curiously at Mrs. Brown as he approached her, and, apparently thinking that she was waiting for admittance, volunteered the information that if Mrs. Berryman did not wish to be seen she would not answer the door however loudly anyone knocked.
"Then you know her—and her granddaughter?" questioned Mrs. Brown.
"I know Melina," he answered, "but I've never spoken to old Mrs. Berryman and don't want to. Melina's not a bad sort altogether—lately she's quite turned over a new leaf, since she took to going to Sunday school to please the little gentleman."
"The little gentleman?" Mrs. Brown repeated inquiringly.
"That's what she always calls Mr. Blackmore—the new lay-helper. She's changed a lot since she knew him. The boys about call her 'Saint Melina' now, because when they tease her, instead of answering back and using dreadful language like she used to do, she won't speak a word. I suppose you know Melina Berryman, ma'am?"
"No, but I mean to," Mrs. Brown replied, suddenly coming to that determination. "I'm waiting here to see Mr. Blackmore, who's gone in next door," she explained.
"That's where I live," the boy informed her; "I'm called William Jones. Have you been waiting long?"
"About ten minutes, I should think. But do tell me all you know about Melina Berryman, there's a good boy. I hope you don't tease her."