She walked on quickly now, and did not stop again until she reached the Browns' house in Gladstone Street. There she found Agnes and Mrs. Brown on the look out for her, and was welcomed most cordially by them both. She retained a few of the flowers Mr. Blackmore had given her, for herself; but the rest she gave to her hostess, and subsequently they graced the centre of the tea-table.
Melina was rather shy at first, but not for long, and she had become quite at home by the time Mr. Brown and his two little sons appeared upon the scene, when they all had tea. Melina enjoyed her tea, which was served in a fashion to which she was wholly unaccustomed, for Mrs. Berryman never cared whether the cloth was clean or otherwise—indeed, she often dispensed with it altogether.
Here, however, the cloth was clean and uncrumpled, and the tea things laid with care; whilst the wooden bread platter was spotless, and the butter was in a pretty glass dish. Before the meal commenced Melina was surprised to see her companions bow their heads reverently, whilst Mr. Brown thanked God for the meal they were about to take: she had never heard grace said before.
"You must come and see us again, my dear," Mrs. Brown said a while later, when her little visitor was about to leave; "you would like to, wouldn't you?"
"Oh yes, please," Melina answered, her dark eyes meeting Mrs. Brown's with an expression of wondering gratitude in them. "I can't imagine why you are so kind to me!" she added, thinking that she liked Agnes' mother very much.
Mrs. Brown did not know what response to make to this. She put an arm around Melina and gave her a warm, impulsive kiss; but, instead of returning it, Melina drew back and looked at her in astonishment.
"What is the matter?" inquired Mrs. Brown; "don't you like to be kissed?"
"Oh yes," the little girl replied quickly, fearful of being misunderstood, "but I—I am so surprised. You see, I can't remember that anyone ever kissed me before."
"Oh, poor child!"
"Gran never has—no, never! But I don't want to be kissed by Gran! You—oh, I do like you! I wish you were my mother, that I do!"